Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: The Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association at Collem opposed the Government’s decision to launch an online booking app through GEL for scenic Dudhsagar Waterfall tourism at Collem.
According to tour operators, for the past 3 years, the online booking facility has started for tourists, is getting huge responses, and there is no need for Government app-based booking.
It may be recalled that yesterday there has been discussion held at Panjim wherein there was a meeting between a delegation of Tours operators and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, along with MLA and Chairperson of the Tourism Development Corporation Ganesh Gaonkar for the creation of government app facilities through GEL.
However, later in the evening, the Tour operators association held a meeting at Collem to discuss the government decision wherein all the 431 Jeep operators opposed the government app for online registration booking.
Jeep operators and members of the Association oppose the Government’s online booking website because their online booking facility is receiving a good response, with 80 per cent of tourists registering themselves for a visit to Dudhsagar Waterfall while 20 per cent of tourists come offline.
Under this, out of 431 jeeps registered, around 225 Jeeps ferry tourists daily to Dudhsagar waterfall on a rotation basis.
Jeep operators asked when everything is going smoothly on their online website, why is there a need for another government online booking app by Government?
The tour operators want Government to recognise their online facility.
Meanwhile, the Forest department had asked the tour operators to fill out their forms and submit them to the forest department to register them for the new online website launched by Government.
However, the Dudhsagar Tour operators are unwilling to register them under the government online booking website, fearing they may face many technical and other issues.
The tour operators said they are ready to improve their online booking facility in case the Government feels there are loopholes. However, they opposed the Government’s online booking app.
