Porvorim: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday told the House that the new legislation was being brought after existing ones were not effective in the changing practices of tourism.
The issue was raised on the floor of the House by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao who questioned the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act, which is currently kept open for public suggestions and objections. He also alleged that the number of tourists visiting Goa has been dropping.
Responding to the questions, Khaunte rubbished the statement that the tourism footfalls are reducing in the coastal state.
The minister said that Tourism is not only a department but it is an economy. “We need to ensure that everything around it needs to be taken care of,” he said.
Khaunte said that Goa Daman and Diu Tourist Legislation Act, 1982 and Goa Tourism Places Protection and Maintenance Act were existing in the state.
The minister said that over the years, with so many advances in the tourism sector, there was need to address the changing concept of tourism practices and these Acts had become obsolete.
He said that there were also difficulties in taking action against illegalities, in absence of the law.
While Alemao questioned on onboarding, NALSAR university of law to draft the Act as it was objected by Tourism Board, Khaunte pointed out that the objection was raised by Law department and the department has right take consultant on board.
