The trade body, travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG) has raised strong objection to minister Michael Lobo’s statement that unregistered hotels be allowed to sell their rooms on travel portals.
TTAG President, Nilesh Shah stated that last week the tourism industry was assured that the tourism department would take strict action against all illegal operators. Shah further added that Ajgaonkar promised to stand by the tourism department and no political intervention would be tolerated.
Later, Lobo had told reporters that the chief minister has agreed to allow unregistered hotels to start taking bookings directly through travel portals.
“Technically, what Lobo means is that the hotels operating illegally be allowed to do business,” Shah added.
Shah also said that legal operators have not been given any relief for the losses suffered by them due to the pandemic, but at the same time Lobo is talking about giving protection to fly-by-night operators.
The TTAG president said it is ironic considering that the government is talking about weeding out illegal operators by way of the draft rules, one of its ministers is talking differently.
“We have fought for years for the law to be amended so that all hotels are brought under the domain of the tourism ministry. Lobo is talking about doing away with all that,” he said, adding that the industry will not put up with it.
Last year, the tourism department amended the Goa Registration of Tourism Trade Act, making it mandatory for online aggregators and all operators selling rooms, to register with the tourism department.
