Tourism Minister agrees to inquiry, but claims tourist footfalls increased
MAPUSA
Opposition benches led by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday tied the government in knots for spending excessively on promotional events and roadshows abroad but failing to get enough tourists in Goa.
Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar, however, agreed to an inquiry into the monies paid to agencies for holding roadshows which could not be organised due to the lockdown.
Sardesai also questioned the government figures on the number of tourists that arrived in the State in the New Year during the pandemic.
The Fatorda MLA and the tourism minister crossed swords on the floor of the House as the former accused the latter of failing to provide proper figures on expenses incurred on the promotional events in foreign countries.
“Former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had assured the House to conduct a pre-audit of all promotional events. In the last four years, Rs 33.68 crore was utilised to promote Goa but no pre-audit was done of the roadshows, which is a violation of an assurance,” said Sardesai.
He said the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), the apex tourism body in the State, had also requested the government not to waste money in promoting Goa and offered to do the same instead.
In retaliation, Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar informed there was no pre-audit done but instead the tourism department prepared estimates and sent these to the finance department.
He said the footfalls have increased from the time he has taken over the tourism ministry in the State.
“In 2019, around 1.5 crore tourists came to Goa. It’s all due to the efforts taken by the tourism department,” he defended.
Sardesai pointed out that as per the government data, 9.70 lakh domestic and 7,000 foreign tourists arrived in Goa in the New Year.
“During the pandemic internationally everything was shut down. Air travel was closed. Only bubble flights were operating. So from where did the foreign tourists come to Goa? Or is the government creating these figures to justify the money spent?” he questioned.
Using the department’s data, the Fatorda MLA rubbed it in further and disclosed that the government has paid various agencies for promotional events in foreign countries at the height of the pandemic but failed to recover the monies from the agencies.
He said a BTL promotion event was scheduled to be held in Portugal from May 27 to May 31 in 2020 and the government paid Rs 55.91 lakh to an agency to book a pavilion.
“The event was cancelled because of the lockdown but the money has been kept with the organisers for future participation. How can the government know that the same person will get the tender again?” he queried.
Similarly, Sardesai mentioned two other promotional events held during the pandemic but the shows could not take place.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant came to the rescue of his colleague and informed the House that three promotional events were scheduled during the Covid but payment was made for only one event.
“Bookings and payments for any events held on foreign soil are made at least three months in advance. We need to promote tourism and to do that we have to explore all the avenues,” Sawant said.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao was of the opinion that Goa was popular internationally and there was no need to hold promotional events in foreign countries. “Goa is a tourism hub. The whole world knows about Goa. Don’t spend money to hold such promotional events,” Alemao said.
Opposition Leader Digambar Kamat and Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar also participated in the debate.
