MAPUSA: Advising tourist taxi owners to negotiate with the government and settle their issues instead of resorting to strikes, Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has warned that such strikes would only drive international tourists to other destinations.
In a radical departure from his earlier stance when he wholeheartedly supported tourist taxi owners, who make a sizeable vote bank in the constituency, the coastal MLA felt there was a misconception among taxi operators about speed governors.
He said taxi owners felt speed governors were imposed on them but the reality was different. “They don’t understand all commercial vehicles have to install speed governors. They think they are being targeted by the government,” Lobo said.
Lobo also made it clear that a tourism state like Goa could not afford strikes, which would only drive international tourists to other destinations. “Strikes will bring bad name to Goa. Being a stakeholder, I am concerned about tourists changing their plans due to the strike and moving to other places,” he said.
“Why should a tourist be put to risk? Tourists are not interested in taxis. If there is a problem here, they will shift to other spots,” he added.
