MARGAO
Asserting that the traditional methods has given Benaulim the No 3 ranking status as the best beach in Asia by TripAdvisor, local water sports operators and the Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Friday made a plea to the government not to digitalise water sports operations through GEL services, but allow the operators to conduct the water sports business the traditional way.
Water sports operators under the banner of South Goa Water Sports Operators led by President Domingo Rodrigues and Pele Fernandes called on the Benaulim MLA on Friday, a day after Calangute MLA Michael Lobo took up cudgels for the water sports operators from Calangute constituency against digitalisation of water sports through GEL.
Both Domingo and Pele explained to the Benaulim MLA how the Tourism officials have been trying to foist GEL on the water sports operators when they have been observing the High Court order on the queue system. Domingo pointed out that while Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has given them a patient hearing, officials from the Tourism department has been issuing notices to start digital services via GEL.
Contending that Benaulim beach has received the No. 3 ranking as the best beach in Asia, Pele Fernandes pointed out that this status has been achieved when tourism activities along the beach belt have been carried out in a traditional way and not digitally.
The Benaulim MLA assured his full support to the water sports operators, saying that if the government has drawn up plans to digitalise the administration, let them first digitalise the entire system and then discuss the water sports operations. “The water sports operations have been carried out in a traditional manner. The operators are following the queue system as per the High Court directions. If there’s a need to streamline the system, the operators are ready to do that also,” Venzy said, while saying that the government should not bulldoze with the digitalisation through GEL.
He assured to lead a delegation of water sports operators from South Goa to the Tourism Minister and present a charter of demands for consideration.
