KARAN SEHGAL
The tourism industry has unanimously welcomed chief minister Pramod Sawant’s budget statement that he would like to promote hinterland/ eco tourism in the State. However, they also think that the CM will have to push his bureaucracy to make the announcement a reality.
Hinterland/ eco tourism is possible in far-off places in Goa, which are away from the mainstream. Such places have orchards, rivers, lakes, hills, heritage homes, temples and churches, which can attract tourists.
Unlike big hospitality brands, common people in these areas are not equipped enough to deal with either the bureaucracy or complex licensing rules. Therefore, such rules need to be simplified if hinterland/ eco tourism needs to be given a boost.
Savio Messias, president, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said, “Imagine a person in hinterland of Goa, who has 5-6 rooms in his house, which he wants to offer to tourists. He can’t pay a high excise fees to get a license to serve alcohol. But if fees are brought down, he’ll be able to get a license.”
“The government will have to ensure that all files pertaining to such projects are cleared easily. There needs to be a single window for all the clearances,” Messias continued.
Tourism players further suggested that big hotel projects in hinterland should be discouraged. Rather, the government should find ways to encourage local people to take up tourism as a means to earn a living. For that, policy framework has to change.
Ralph de Sousa, a seasoned tourism player, said, “People, who have farms and other properties in hinterland areas, need facilitation to get the licenses because they are not tourism industry professionals. The government should encourage heritage homes and homestays in such areas to give a boost to hinterland/ eco tourism.”
There are already beautiful houses in the remote areas. Their owners need income. If licensing rules are liberalized, then they will be able to offer their houses as homestays to tourists. They will get an income and the tourists will get a wonderful experience to see Goan life closely.
But for the common people of hinterland areas to become tourism entrepreneurs, the government will have to simplify the licensing rules. As of now, they run behind local panchayat and departments every year for approvals, which makes their life really difficult.
Loven Perriera, partner, Backwoods (which provides bird-watching experience to tourists) said, “The government should change rules so that those who are running small tourism related business in hinterland get licenses for 3 or 5 years. Right now, we have to go to Panchayat as well as Tourism Department every year for license, which consumes a lot of time.”
Tourism experts also feel that the mainstay of Goa’s appeal should remain its beaches. World over, the State is famous for sun and sand. Therefore, hinterland/ eco tourism should be offered as extra features of the same destination so that the tourists have another reason to come here.
de Sousa continued, “From its northernmost tip to southernmost part, Goa is slightly above 100 kms. From east to north, it’s around 65 kms. The tourists, who would go to hinterland, will maximum spend a night over there. They would come back to the beaches, which is where they usually stay, after a short visit to the remote areas. Given the State’s small size, it’s quite possible to do so.”
It’s true that hinterland/ eco tourism in Goa is the need of the hour. However, it’s possible only if the government brings liberal licensing rules. If not, it will be very difficult to promote such tourism in the State.
