'Brokers should be limited to make Goa a tourism capital'

Panaji, December 24 (IANS). Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed the confidence that Goa could become the country’s tourism capital, that the stakeholders of tourism believe that more infrastructure should be built and that the threat of brokers should be abolished. Nitin Gadkari said during the inauguration of the second phase of the parallel cable-touched bridge over the Gambler River that Goa could become the tourism capital of India, as people are attracted to this tourism statement. Every year, many foreign tourists visit Goa. Therefore, amenities such as hotels, restaurants and parking spaces must be made. There is a need to appoint a consultant to study these tasks. If we make these facilities, Goa’s economy will be strengthened and the youth find work. The minister also requested to connect Mopa airports with water transport. The minister also laid the groundstone of Observatory Towers and a viewing gallery on the new Gambler bridge. Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the Observatory Tower and Viewing Gallery, including 125 meters of high tourist starring, a rotating restaurant and an art gallery, could have an attraction for tourism in the coastal state. He said: “It could be like the Eiffel Tower of Paris. The central government will help Goa move forward. I will be happy if the tourist steriness is ready.” Nilesh Shah, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), told IANS that Goa could become the national capital of tourism, provided more facilities were made and the problems of brokers were eliminated. He said: “We need to provide better facilities to tourists coming to Goa. When we talk about promoting tourism in eco-environment or inner areas, we need ‘app’-based taxi services so that tourists can opt for fair prices. This is the question of the hour.” Nilesh Shah said about the threat of brokers that they are not on the beaches, but also in the capital Panaji and other places where tourism activities are. They spoil the name Goa. Taking action must be taken against him and those who do ‘Dadagiri’. Charter flights started coming to Goa and the tourism season is at its peak. It was a little sluggish compared to last year, but it appears that it will now reach the peak. He said that tourists should go home with fond memories, just then they want to come again. He said: “We want tourists who act well when they come here and understand our responsibility.” A North -goa hut owner also said that brokers became a major problem in the tourism sector and that they should be taken against them. They spoil Goa’s name by taking extra money from tourists, and there are many incidents where they are involved in assaulting tourists. It must be stopped. Police resources said a case was registered at about 700 brokers this year, which has doubled since last year. “We have created a database of brokers. These brokers are native to other states.” As for the actions against brokers and social media, Tourism Minister Rohan Khunt said that the efforts to influence social media to discredit Goa and that the government is taking a legal opinion for action against them. Social efforts try to explain how Goa tourism is wrong. It comes here and some people seem to have a proper strategy to discredit Goa. Minister Rohan Khunt said: “We are trying to take legal advice to act on such things.” The influential people of social media should use this medium for better purposes and not slander anyone. Influential people should use social media platforms for good things, and the wrong things must be brought to the attention of the government. We are there for improvement. But the slander Goa will not be tolerated. Minister Rohan Khunt said that all efforts are being made to provide better facilities to tourists. The government is also taking action against the brokers who created a Rukus in the tourism sector. There are illegal brokers going on and a case is registered against double brokers compared to last year. The police take up against them. We must ensure that the illegal brokers come out of the system. Once out, the dance bar and prostitution will be closed automatically. Minister Rohan Khunt said that brokers are creating problems because they are involved in such illegal matters. In the last tourist season, Minister Rohan Khunt instructed officials to take action against the brokers to give the tourists visiting the state a safe environment, and later against the brokers. Illegal activities spoil the name Goa. Whether it is a dance bar, prostitution, drugs or other things, brokers as well as these things should also be cleaned. -Ians fz/sgk