MARGAO
Sounding a word of action to the government that tourists will not come to Goa in the time of the pandemic if the beach shacks are not in place before the tourism season, shack owners on Friday made a plea to officials of South Goa tourism office to immediately carry out the demarcation of these temporary structures in the South.
Leader of shack owners, Cruz Cardozo, warned that they will have no option but to descend on the south Goa tourism office to question the officials over the delay in carrying out the demarcation when their North Goa counterparts have kicked off the exercise.
Thanking Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Ports Minister Michael Lobo for the 50 per cent waiver of the shack fees, Cruz said the shack owners are all geared up to start the season despite Covid-related issues.
“We are ready to start the work of erecting beach shacks. In North Goa, the exercise of demarcation of the sites has begun and we expect similar exercise in the south on priority,” he said.
Cruz pointed out that the work at the south Goa tourism office has been held up as some of the staffers were requisitioned for Covid duty by the District Collector. These staffers have not been relieved, he added.
While making a fervent plea to the tourism officials to start the demarcation exercise, Cruz feared the delay in doing so may cause losses to the owners. “If the problem of demarcation is not resolved by Monday, all the shack owners from South Goa will go to the south tourism office,” he warned.
Saying that tourism will pick up in the state despite the pandemic, Cruz pointed out that Goa may be the only destination left for the domestic tourists to come and enjoy their holidays.
“We are looking forward to a rush of tourists during the ensuing Diwali vacation. Shack owners are receiving calls from domestic tourists to find out about the tourism season. Unless the shacks are in place in time, the tourists may not come,” he added.
He pointed out that even international tourists are willing to come to the state provided all issues relating to charter bookings are sorted out by the authorities.
