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STAKEHOLDERS' TAKE
* Negotiations is the only way forward. Government cannot and should not decide hotel tariffs. Neither should the hospitality industry charge such high tariffs
- Francisco de Braganca, TTAG president
* In the interest of Goa and Defexpo, the MoU will actually put a system in place. And, that will ensure that the name of the destination is not tarnished by some hotels over-charging
- Ralph de Sousa, de Sousa Group chief
* MoU can be signed. But, it should be seen that hotels get some benefit by hosting guests for Defexpo. At the same time, it should be ensured that hotels don’t overcharge
- Tapas De, Hotel Fidalgo General Manager
* I think tariffs should be based on demand and supply and the government shouldn’t intervene in deciding the same
- Atish Fernandes, First Class Holidays
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PANAJI: The tourism industry thinks that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the central government and hotels is a good step for Defexpo, if it's to happen in Goa again, but tariffs should be decided based on negotiation between both the parties.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced last week that a MoU would be signed with hotels, if Defexpo is back in Goa again, to ensure that tariffs are affordable. Parrikar had said, “Even a chief executive officer (CEO) of a multi-national company said he felt the heat of tariffs during the just concluded Defexpo.”
Certain hotels in South Goa had charged per day tariff well in excess of Rs 50,000 during Defexpo, which just got over on March 31, 2016. Sources also revealed that a chief executive officer who wanted to attend Defexpo just for one day was made to pay for five days of tariff by a hotel.
When asked how tariffs should be decided in case of a MoU, Francisco de Braganca, president, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said, “Negotiations is the only way forward. Government cannot and should not decide hotel tariffs. Neither should the hospitality industry charge such high tariffs.”
De Braganca continued, “TTAG on its part would like to mediate and come out with a negotiated settlement in this respect, considering the concerns of the government and the hotel industry as well”
Ralph de Sousa, chairman of de Souza Group, said, “In the interest of Goa and Defexpo, the MoU will actually put a system in place. And, that will ensure that the name of the destination is not tarnished by some hotels over-charging”
In short, the MoU will make sure that hotels don’t charge whatever rate they wish and that will strengthen Goa’s image as a destination.
Tapas De, general manager, Hotel Fidalgo, said, “MoU can be signed. But, it should be seen that hotels get some benefit by hosting guests for Defexpo. At the same time, it should be ensured that hotels don’t overcharge.”
On how tariffs should be decided, De replied, “Hotels should inform authorities what tariff-rate they would be comfortable with before Defexpo. Then, tariffs should be decided based on mutual discussion. But, the government shouldn’t decide the tariffs alone.”
Atish Fernandes, director, business development, First Class Holidays, said, “I think tariffs should be based on demand and supply and the government shouldn’t intervene in deciding the same.”
The tourism industry concurs that there should be scope for hotels to charge some sort of premium during Defexpo.
This means that the central government will have to walk a really fine line. It will have to make sure that hotels don’t overcharge and yet earn a decent return during Defexpo.
Tourism industry also agrees that an event of DefExpo’s scale can do wonders for Goa’s image internationally and that image should be further strengthened.
