MAPUSA
Completion of a couple of major infra projects, resumption of charter tourism and cracking down on illegalities were some of the major takeaways this year as the government went all out to revive the tourism industry which was struggling to recover from the two-year Coronavirus pandemic blow.
But with the threat of spread of new Covid infections looming large, fears of uncertainty are back to haunt the stakeholders.
However, the biggest drawback in the tourism sector was the lack of clarity and decisiveness of putting the needling transport issue in place even as the tourist taxi operators continue to hold the government at ransom.
The two major infrastructure projects “ the completion of the first phase of Mopa airport and one side of the eight-lane Zuari bridge expected to be thrown open by month-end “ will go a long way in resolving the connectivity issue.
Touted as the game changer in the tourism sector, the international Mopa airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with much fanfare in the second week of December 2022.
Initially, the first phase of the airport is expected to cater to around 4.4 million passengers per annum, which can be expanded to a massive 33 million passengers per annum. The airport is expected to boost the socio-economic development of the State and serve the needs of the tourism industry in a big way. It has the potential of serving as a key logistics hub, directly connecting many domestic and international destinations.
With charter tourism taking a dip in the past two years due to the Covid, the new season of 2022 brought some hope with Goa receiving charters from Russia, Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom (UK). The knotty issue of electronic visa (e-visa) facility for UK travellers planning to visit India was finally resolved after the Centre decided to reinstate the facility bringing much relief to the stakeholders in the State. Although late in the season, the impact of the decision is expected to trickle in from January-end in the New Year.
While the number of foreign visitors is still nowhere close to pre-pandemic levels, travel company operators and hotel industry executives say an upsurge in domestic tourists is making them more upbeat.
The government’s proactive effort to strike against illegalities by shack and water sports operators on the beach and action against hoteliers for failing to register with the tourism department, although in a very mild form, was a welcome step.
“It may be slow but at least they have started taking action against illegalities which is a good sign. I only hope it’s a continuous process and not one of,” said Nilesh Shah, President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.
Tourism Minister, Rohan Khaunte has been vocal on regulating tourism activity with a focus on quality tourists while making an effort to introduce new avenues like medical and hinterland tourism to further accelerate tourism recovery in the State.
The inability of the government to get the defiant taxi operators to install free meters or embrace app-based services has been the biggest downside leaving the tourists with no option but to be at the mercy of the marauding taxi operators.
The State government promised to inaugurate the Goa Taxi app on December 19 but failed to do so, pushing its launch date to the New Year even as the taxi operators refuse to fall in line.
“If tourism needs to be sustained the transport system will play a key role. Competition is the key. If they bring in competition automatically things will pan out properly. The government has also to understand that there has to be a way out even if the taxi operators don’t listen. They have to take a legal course and implement it with an iron hand,” Shah opined.
When the season was just peaking, the strict implementation of sound ban regulation also came as a dampener. Nightlife is crucial for a touristic State and music is an inalienable part of it.
The government has its task cut out to strike a balance between the locals who want to live in peace and hoteliers who blast music late night.
