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Even as tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has often waxed eloquent about not tolerating illegalities in the tourism sector, illegal operators continue to offer scuba diving. The government was informed about it a few months ago, but a tourism official said a whip will only be cracked after the monsoon.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has appointed a service provider, Flying Fish Diving India Ltd, for scuba diving, and the government received a complaint that its activities were affected due to the presence of illegal operators. An official said that they did roaring business although they didn’t have permission from the National Institute of Water Sports.
The tourism official said that the chosen service provider informed the department that unless the illegal operators are stopped, the legitimate provider “doesn’t stand a chance”.
The tourism official said that the department would put things in order once the water sports policy is finalised. During the monsoon, all water sports in the sea are shut.
The policy, Goa’s Minister for tourism Rohan Khaunte said, was aimed at attracting tourists and promoting tourism in the hinterlands. Developing such facilities in Quepem taluka was under the government’s consideration, he said. Apart from Quepem, the outskirts of Mollem, Ponda and Netravali are other areas shortlisted for hinterland tourism.
The purpose of the water sports policy is to weed out illegal operators, the official said, adding that any mishap or small accident linked to the tourism sector has the potential to hurt the image of Goa. “Even the smallest issue gets magnified on social media. We need to be careful, but need some time to stop illegal operators,” he said. The proposed water sports policy is yet to be approved by the government though it was released for public suggestions and opinions more than six months ago. It was opposed by voluntary organisations, opposition parties, and water sports operators who felt that the policy was not in the interests of Goa.
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