PANAJI
Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte on Monday made a candid confession about the flourishing violations and illegalities along the beach belt while attributing it to an “acute shortage of Tourist Security Force” to curb the menace.
As Goa is inching closer to the upcoming 2022-23 tourist season, Khaunte underscored the need for partly incorporating beach security with the existing Integrated Tourism Policy while roping in the services of Goa Police to launch joint operations in cracking down on nuisances on the beaches.
“We are short of the Tourist Security Force, which we think we can partly make it ready with the integrated tourism policy… We need to strengthen our force. Our department will seek the assistance of the local police force to reduce nuisances and illegalities. The illegal touts or guides and hawkers become the main backbone of illegalities. We will deal with an iron hand,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the coastal MLAs in Panaji.
The minister was replying to queries pertaining to the bad repute Goa earned in the recent past owing to the drug menace, tourist vehicles on the beach, etc.
In a recent incident of a Maharashtra SUV car getting stuck in the sand of Morjim beach, Khaunte was prompt to state the driver was booked for unruly action and damage to the environment. He reiterated that a tourism security force is required as a policy matter to curb irresponsible tourism. “…especially the turtle nesting sites and other sensitive places need to be protected. We need to be serious to come down heavily on such illegalities in close coordination with the police and other related agencies,” he added while quickly mentioning that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s intervention will be crucial.
Khaunte maintained that with tourism being Goa’s main economic sector, inputs from the coastal MLAs cutting across party lines is essential “so that visitors enjoy different facets of tourism and feel special while holidaying in the State.”
Various suggestions to improve basic needs on the beach belt besides improvising and reviving some tourism activities were discussed during the meeting.
“I will prepare an entire plan for the coastal belt by taking all concerned departments into confidence and incorporating their views, suggestions. In this process, I will also visit places where new tourism services are underway and to our tourism properties which have been leased out or not in proper shape,” he further said.
Interestingly, the State had lately launched the Beach Vigil App, allowing users to report violations like drinking/cooking on the beach, unattended litter, illegal hawking, sound pollution, illegal water sports, and touting for services like massages, tattoos as well as illegal services.
Khaunte also spoke about promoting the culture of #WorkationGoa through creating co-working spaces on the beaches with Benaulim beach in South Goa and Morjim and Miramar beaches in North Goa identified for setting up such spaces in the first phase.
The State has been facing a challenging situation ahead of the annual tourist season with drug overdose deaths, rampant violations on the beaches and the availability of drugs making headlines in the national media.
