MARGAO
There seemed no end to the ongoing stand-off between the Tourism department and the water sports operators at Cavelossim with the beleaguered operators preferring to go without business than carrying out the operations through Goa Electronics Ltd (GEL).
While GEL has set up a kiosk at the Cavelossim for the Tourism department to bring the water sports operation under its lens, the operators have boycotted the kiosk and anchored the boats on the beach.
Take note, Christmas has been the peak season for the water sports operators across the beach belt, with the rush of visitors to the State. Operators from Cavelossim, however, have preferred to go without business than come under GEL.
Interestingly, Tourism officials have been adamant about bringing Cavelossim-based water sports operations under GEL, but one has not come across the agency maintaining the queue system at any other beach along the belt. That’s not all. While GEL has come out with a rate card, displaying the same at the tent, one has not come across a similar rate card at any other beach.
Cavelossim-based water sports operator Roy Barretto pointed out that they have anchored their boats on the beach since bringing the operations under GEL is unacceptable.
“We have at every forum accepted the court directions to maintain a queue system. Somehow, the Tourism department seemed to have other plans. What was the reason to bring GEL into the water sports operations remains a mystery,” he said.
He questioned: “How can we accept GEL when they ask for our bank details, GST details etc? What is the objective behind roping in GEL in the water sports business? Hence, we have decided to boycott the GEL kiosk.”
Sources pointed out that while the Cavelossim-based operators have been directly hit by the introduction of GEL, the decision has also not gone down well with their counterparts elsewhere along Salcete beach belt and outside.
President of South Goa Water Sports Operators Association Domingo Rodrigues said GEL is unacceptable for the operators, be it at Cavelosim or Benaulim or Colva. He added that their counterparts along the North Goa beach belt are also opposed to the introduction of the GEL. Domingo has raised a host of questions. “What is the government’s interest in bringing GEL into the picture? Has the court given the directions to get GEL to maintain the queue system? We already have put the queue system in place and the decision to rope in GEL is based on vested interests,” he said.
Domingo pointed out that most of the water sports operators along the State’s beach belt are traditional fishermen who initiated water sports years ago when the government had no idea about the concept.
“We used to take the tourists for a ride on our traditional fishing canoes before we went for the boats to keep pace with the changing times. We have invested our money in the government,” he said, demanding to know whether the government has in any way assisted the water sports operations.
He also questioned the rationale behind roping in GEL when the water sports operators have been paying the fees to various authorities.
Other water sports operators have expressed surprise over the way the government has gone about bulldozing its way with GEL without taking the operators into confidence.
“They have just asked the operators to report to the GEL office at the South district Collectorate with bank details, GST etc on a Saturday despite being a holiday,” the operator added.
With no solution yet to break the deadlock, sources do not rule out the possibility of water sports operators from across the State uniting under one banner on the contentious issue in the coming days.
Water sports operators cry foul over Tourism dept's rate card
MARGAO:
Water sports operators have feared that the rate card introduced by the Tourism department through GEL will only adversely affect their business, saying the rates would drive away visitors from availing of the facility.
President of South Goa Water Sports Operators Domingo Rodrigues pointed out that the rates fixed by the Tourism department and the rate card displayed at the GEL kiosk do not augur well for the water sports operators when the government has not invested any money in the operations. Citing an instance, Domingo said that GEL has fixed a rate of Rs 1,240 per person for beach para-sailing.
“Water sports operators follow a queue system at Colva through a counter manned by the staff appointed by the operators. The operations are run smoothly,” he said.
Contended another water sports operator: “This rate fixed by GEL is much more than what the waters sports operators are charging. We do not know the rationale behind arriving at this rate.”
What is further worrying the operators is that the fixed rate may not give flexibility for the operators to do business below the fixed rate.
“Since we have invested the money in the business, we make decisions about what is best for our interests. Hence, when visitors approach us for the facility, they demand discounted rates, which we adjust and give them the facility. But, with GEL in the picture, the operators will not get the flexibility on deciding the rates, resulting in loss of business,” the operator added.
