Stakeholders urge govt to tackle touts and hawkers in next season
File photo of a beach shack in South Goa shut down for the season.
MARGAO
With the beach shack season drawing to an early close this year due to the West Asia conflict coupled with the scorching heat, shack owners have made a strong appeal to the government to take strict action against touts and migrant hawkers along Goa’s beach belt ahead of the next season.
Shack operators also expressed concern that Goa’s image has suffered due to instances of foreign tourists being harassed by some domestic visitors.
President of the Goa Shack Owners Society, Cardozo, thanked the government for allotting shacks early this season, which helped operators generate good business at the outset.
Highlighting that touting and hawking remain major challenges for Goa’s tourism sector, Cardozo said that despite the government’s stated zero-tolerance policy, the problem persisted throughout the season. “Despite repeated assurances, touts and hawkers could not be curbed along the beach belt. There were also instances of domestic tourists harassing foreign visitors, which has tarnished Goa’s image as a tourist destination,” he said.
Noting that the beach shack season commenced in September for the first time in recent years, Cardozo said operators saw strong business in September and October, as well as during the Christmas period. “However, the West Asia conflict, coupled with the sultry summer heat, has adversely impacted business. Several shack operators along the Candolim–Calangute belt have begun dismantling their structures, with others in the Salcete region expected to follow,” he added.
He further pointed out that the beach shack business largely depends on international tourists. “Visitors coming for weddings and conferences rarely visit beach shacks. Similarly, tourists frequenting casinos tend to dine within hotels,” he said.
“We are grateful to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte for issuing licences as early as August, enabling us to begin operations in September. Tourists visiting during that period patronised beach shacks, resulting in good business,” Cardozo noted.
Beach shack operator Inacio Fernandes from Betalbatim stressed that improving infrastructure would significantly boost tourist footfall. “Tourists will visit beach shacks if the government enhances infrastructure, including motorable access. At times, our staff have had to carry visitors on chairs due to lack of proper access. We do this to support tourism, care for our guests, and showcase our culture,” he said.
Fernandes added that attracting quality tourists is the government’s responsibility, while local bodies must ensure proper infrastructure such as roads, changing rooms, and sanitation facilities.
Addressing the issue of hawking, Fernandes said Betalbatim beach has remained largely free of illegal hawkers due to collective efforts by shack operators, who have contributed towards security measures to curb the problem.
