Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte today said there is a need to regulate water sports activities in the state to weed out the presence of illegal touts involved in water sports activities across the state.
“There is a need for regulating water sports activities in the state to weed out the presence of illegal touts involved in water sports activities across the state. If steps are not taken now, Goa will lose on the water sports business,” said Khaunte.
He further said that Goa is already facing tough competition from Malvan in Maharashtra in water sports.
Khaunte said he would discuss the water sports issue with coastal MLAs to redress it.
“Water Sports operators are cheated by the touts who overcharge the tourists, bringing a bad reputation to Goa. I am of the opinion that the entire profit should go to the operator; a large chunk of money is kept by these touts,” he added.
Khaunte further highlighted the importance of regulating the trade, stating that GEL has been assigned to introduce the online system in the trade.
He said that the rates of Water Sports activities would be decided by respective Associations, on which Rs 50 per customer would be charged by GEL, which would be billed to the tourists and not the Association.
He justified the proposal of setting up a GEL counter to manage the booking to streamline the business and assured the Watersports operators that their money would be credited to them on the same day.
“There are some people trying to misguide the people, he said and called on the stakeholders to come up with concrete suggestions,” he added.
