VASCO
Anticipating difficulty in reaching the airport, some passengers arrived early in the morning and were seen seated outside the airport, while others had tough time in managing infants and toddlers. As the tourist taxis remained off the road, the tourists hired rickshaws to reach the airport. Police teams were also present at the airport to avoid any law and order problems. Speaking to The Goan, many tourists hit out at the tourist taxi operators for putting them to hardship. “We had to leave out hotels early to be in time for our departure. Everyone has right to carry out business for their livelihood and the tourist taxi operator should not deprive them by exerting pressure on the government,” remarked a tourist from Punjab, who supported the rent-a-bike and rent-a-car operators. “We are not rich tourists and we take the cheapest means of transport to explore Goa,” added the Punjabi tourist. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa Secretary Savio Messias told The Goan that he had been camping since morning to guide the tourists. “There is no coordination between the KTC buses and the GTDC s hired buses, as tourists were confused on which buses to board. The strike is unjustified and the tourist taxi operators have held the tourists to ransom and this will have an adverse impact on the tourism industry,” said Messias.
