PANAJI
Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte has convened a meeting with the coastal MLAs in Thursday to discuss the Goa Shack Policy 2023-26.
This gathering, an official said, will present a valuable opportunity to engage in fruitful dialogues, exchange ideas, and collaborate towards further enhancing the tourism industry and the benefits it brings to the locals.
“By involving coastal MLAs in shaping the trajectory of tourism policies, the government aims to ensure that the voices and perspectives of local representatives are heard and considered, ultimately leading to more inclusive and sustainable development for the State,” he said.
The Tourism Department further said the policy is developed through extensive discussions with different shack owner associations and that its implementation aims to address several related issues.
Under this new policy, shack owners are now permitted to place deck beds, tables, and chairs within a larger area of 15 metres in front of their shacks. There will also be a provision for picket fencing.
In another condition in the policy, one family member will be allocated a shack, but multiple eligible family members can apply for the same. Unlike the previous policy, there is no longer a requirement to submit a Demand Draft as a security deposit at the time of submitting the application. Instead, this deposit is only necessary after the draw of lots and solely from successful allottees.
Successful allottees now have the option to mutually agree upon the location of their shack amongst themselves and also swap locations within seven days from the draw of lots. Provision has been made to introduce “Digital Coast” at beaches of Goa where shack allottees shall be provided a POS machine by the Department of Tourism.
A strict penalty clause has been introduced to discourage the subletting of shacks.
