TTAG, GCCI, CII DISMAYED OVER TOURISM POLICY, TOURISM BOARD
PANAJI: The Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has expressed their dissatisfaction over the Goa Tourism Policy 2020 and the structure of the Goa Tourism Board.
In a joint representation to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, they said that the Goa Tourism Policy has been in the making for almost two decades and therefore they proposed that this policy be done in a sustainable and balanced manner as this important policy is expected to shape the future of tourism in Goa for decades to come.
The Goa Tourism Board will play a crucial role in decision making with regard to the implementation and functioning of this policy.
It must therefore be of utmost importance that the policy is formulated comprehensively and the Goa Tourism Board has a balanced representation of all key stakeholders in the trade, to facilitate sound decision making for the betterment of the tourism sector in the State of Goa.
Keeping the above in mind, we are working together on a priority basis to collate rational inputs from concerned representatives who have been working on the Tourism Policy for over the past two decades.
They have strongly urged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Swant to consider allowing them time till November 30, 2020, in order to collate our inputs and suggestions; to ensure that the Goa Tourism Policy is not implemented till the inputs from them are received and to make sure that the Goa Tourism Board is not constituted, until the inputs from them are taken up for joint discussions.
They have also urged the government to make sure that no immediate decisions are taken for the long term while the Board is in the process of being formulated and to defer the proposed decision of the Department of Tourism for floating a tender for appointing of a PR agency to promote its activities and provide assistance at trade fairs as is being reported in a section of the press.
They have hoped that they will get a positive response from the government at the earliest so that they can work together to ensure that a well-structured Tourism Board is formulated that can help take informed decisions for the betterment of tourism sector in Goa.
The copies of the letter has been submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister Babu Ajgaonkar and Secretary (Tourism) J Ashok Kumar.
The letter has been jointly signed TTAG president Nilesh Shah, CII Goa State Council chairman Blaise Costabir and GCCI president Manoj Caculo.