Panaji: Goa Tourism Minister Rohan A Khaunte has reaffirmed the state government’s support for traditional Goan beach shack operators and said efforts were being made to ensure they receive requisite permissions ahead of the upcoming tourist season.
Khaunte said traditional shack operators were important stakeholders in Goa’s tourism ecosystem and that the government was committed to ensuring that beach shacks, which are closely associated with the state’s tourism identity, remain with local Goans.
“We have actually created history, and I always said that we will ensure that shacks are there for the tourists. Every year, tourists used to wait for the shacks, but since the last two-three years, shacks are ready before the tourist season. We have supported them wholeheartedly,” Khaunte said.
He said the government was providing support to shack operators while referring to a legal challenge filed by a local operator on technical grounds.
The minister’s remarks came ahead of the tourist season, with shack operators seeking early issuance of licences to enable them to commence operations.
Cruz Cardozo, president of the Shack Owners Welfare Society, said the association had met Khaunte and requested that licences be issued at the earliest so that the shacks could begin operations by the first week of September, as was the case last year.
“The Tourism Minister said he will give the licences as soon as possible and we have full trust in him. The Tourism Minister, Tourism Director and government have always been supportive,” Cardozo said.
He said Goa also received a significant number of tourists during the off-season and the shack operators were looking forward to the upcoming season.
The traditional beach shacks are a key feature of Goa’s tourism landscape, offering food, beverages and other services to visitors along the state’s beaches.
