PANAJI
Staying true to its predeliction for plans and roadmaps prepared by top-notch white-collar consultants and firms, the Goa government on Wednesday approved yet another 'masterplan' and policy for the economically crucial tourism sector.
Deputy Chief Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar said, a 'Tourism Board' will be the nucleus of the sector in the new masterplan.
"It will be responsible for strategizing the promotion of Goa globally," Ajgaonkar, who holds the tourism portfolio said.
He said a drug-free Goa will be promoted to attract high-end quality tourists.
In a related decision, the cabinet which met on Wenesday, approved halving the licence fees for beach shacks this season due to the pandemic triggered economic disruption which has hit the travel and hospitality sector hard.
The new Goa tourism policy also proposes an onslaught on narco-tourism, something a corrupt system has been grappling with since tourism formally began by accident via the 'hippie' culture nearly half a century ago.
Promoting Goa's "natural beauty" and "heritage" were other broad objectives of the policy Ajgaonkar picked out to publicise.
The one approved on Wednesday by the Cabinet is not the first policy or masterplan for Goa's tourism sector, the single largest primary contributor to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Strangely, the process of formulating this masterplan and policy was initiated over a decade ago during the tenure of the government of current Opposition Leader Digamber Kamat.
The task was assigned to Consultancy firm KPMG for a fee of approximately Rs 10-crore.
It comprises four modules which were submitted over a staggered time schedule spanning 5 years from 2015 to date.
It is however unclear if fundamental disruptions the industry is predicted to face post the pandemic are accounted for in the masterplan or policy. Its first module - - current and projected tourism scenario in Goa - - was prepared and finalised way back in December 2015.
