For the past couple of years, spare rooms, holiday homes and apartments rented out to tourists have become a familiar part of Goa’s accommodation scene. But as these stays have grown, so has the question of who is operating legally, who is registered and who is simply putting up a listing online. The issue has now come into sharper focus, with the Goa government stepping up scrutiny of properties being used as tourist accommodation without the required registration.
CHECKS & BALANCES
The Goan reported on September 28 that the government is examining second homes, particularly properties owned by non-Goans and being rented out to tourists. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the Tourism Department has been asked to examine such properties following a recent Supreme Court direction concerning commercial activity in premises meant for residential use. The government has also asked platforms including Airbnb, Agoda and MakeMyTrip to ensure that properties listed on their platforms are registered with the Tourism Department. The deadline for applications and renewals has been extended to October 31. The action is not aimed at registered homestays or holiday rentals operating within the rules. The larger concern is the parallel accommodation markets that operate without meeting the same requirements as hotels, guesthouses and registered homestays. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa has previously raised concerns about illegal hotels, villas and homestays, saying such units can affect legitimate businesses that pay registration fees and taxes, while also raising safety and regulation concerns.
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
For those wanting to make their accommodation legal, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa President Jack Sukhija says the process begins with registration with the Tourism Department. “The basic requirements include ownership or lease documents, government-authorised identity proof and GST registration where applicable. For properties in housing societies, an NOC from the society, or from more than 50 per cent of occupants where a society has not been formed, is required,” he said, adding further, “Those outside housing societies or residential colonies need an affidavit stating the same. A Fire Department NOC and public liability insurance of Rs 2 lakh are also required.”
PAPER WORK HURDLES
On paper, the process may sound straightforward. For some operators, however, getting it done has not been quite as simple. A homestay owner in Aldona, who did not want to be named, said that while the requirements are known, the difficulty comes when people actually try to get the paperwork done. “Even though we know the process in theory, the issue is when things don’t work out practically,” the owner said. They said they had been trying to complete their renewal but were repeatedly asked to return. “We have been trying to get our renewal done, but they kept telling us to come again and again,” the owner said, mentioning that the travel was quite a hassle for them.
OPERATORS SEEK TIMELINES
That gap between what the rules say and what happens when people actually try to follow them is a concern for some small operators. For someone running a few rooms or a homestay rather than a large commercial property, repeated visits, paperwork and delays can mean lost time and uncertainty, particularly with the tourist season approaching. Another rental property operator in Utorda, who asked not to be identified for fear of increased scrutiny, said the government may have a plan in place, but the authorities also need to give applicants a clear timeline. “If the government has a list and a plan in place, they should also have a time limit for their part of the process once we submit the documents,” the operator said. The concern, they added, is not about avoiding regulation but about making compliance practical. “The process shouldn’t be made so difficult and time-consuming that people don’t want to go through it,” the operator said.
BALANCING REGULATION
There is also another side to the issue. Residents of housing societies have raised concerns about unfamiliar guests moving in and out of residential buildings, noise, parking and security. The Goan had earlier reported concerns over flats being rented to tourists for short periods, with tourism stakeholders pointing to situations where several strangers occupy residential apartments for a few days. For Goa’s tourism industry, the concern is therefore not simply about Airbnb or homestays. It is also about creating a level playing field while keeping smaller, legitimate operators within the system. TTAG has linked unregistered accommodation to lost revenue and an uneven business environment, while wider tourism concerns continue to include transport, cleanliness, tourist safety and the overall visitor experience.
At the same time, the government’s crackdown brings up a practical question: if registration is the way forward, can the process be made efficient enough for people to actually follow it? Goa’s tourism economy has room for different kinds of stays, from large hotels to family-run homestays. But as the State moves towards tighter scrutiny, the line between supporting small tourism businesses and enforcing compliance will depend not just on the rules, but on how easily and fairly those rules can be followed.
