PANAJI
With shack allotments beginning at least one month ahead of schedule this year, the beach belt is already buzzing with activity as nearly 90 per cent of licenses have been issued well before the official start of the tourist season.
The stakeholders stated that the early move has not only given them breathing space to prepare but also hope for a profitable season.
“Some shacks have already begun operations, including mine. While nearly 90 per cent of licenses from the Tourism Department have been issued, around 60 per cent of these have erected their structures. The others are in the process,” President of Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo told The Goan.
While issuance of licenses began on September 1, the demarcation started as early as August 1.
He acknowledged that the government has now streamlined the licensing process for two consecutive years, making it easier for operators to plan in advance. However, some shacks are still awaiting the arrival of non-Goan staff before they can begin full-fledged operations.
The shack operation period runs from September 1 to May 31, with charter arrivals expected from October 1, the official commencement of tourist season. For the moment and even during the off-season, the gap is being bridged by Indian tourists, who continue to flock to Goa for brief getaways.
“As it is, we have more domestic tourists, and they spend. Foreign tourists spend as well, but Indians come in larger numbers and keep the business steady.” Another shack operator Joseph Pereira said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the early rollout of shacks has addressed old grievances wherein visitors often arrived before the structures were even up. “We have ensured that everything is ready for tourists. For the past two years, we have created history as our traditional Goenkars are able to set up their shacks before the onset of the season and arrival of tourists,” he said.
While the long-promised single window system is yet to be implemented, operators have still welcomed the quicker shack allotment process. They, however, continue to approach other related departments for other approvals.
“Once we get licenses from the Tourism Department and the local panchayats, the rest including water and electricity supply, consent to operate, food and excise licenses, etc are seamlessly granted. In fact, the FDA is the quickest, as once the required documents are submitted, approval is issued within half an hour,” Cardozo added.
