The Hindu Business Line : Goa tourism body chief spells out agenda

Areas of concern
Keen to get rid of shady activities
To sort out the friction between tourism industry and taxi operators
To request television broadcasters to agree to some regulatory mechanism
Plans to settle the dispute with the music industry

Panaji , June 2

"The tourism industry in the State has decided to bear social responsibility and implement a strict self-regulatory code to ensure that Goa's growing reputation as a family destination is not allowed to be sullied by shady activities like child abuse," says Mr Ralph de Souza, President-elect of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), a body representing tourism and travel industry in the State.

Mr de Souza, who will take charge for a two-year term as President on June 4, is a hotelier who heads the de Souza Group of Hotels, a chain of four three-star resorts in the picturesque North Goa's Sinquerim coastline. He also heads the tourism committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and is a Honorary Secretary of GCCI.

Mr de Souza told Business Line that he has primarily focused on two priorities as regards tourism in the State, beginning with sustained efforts to maintain fair name of the destination.

Self-regulation

"We hoteliers have put up strict norms for outside visitors to guest rooms etc. All hotels would steer clear of any shady activities or operations by anybody and seek police intervention to nip in bud any activities where they suspect things like child abuse," he said, admitting that Goa in recent times has attracted bad publicity on account of dubious activities by some child-abusers on its coast.

About lobbies

"My second concern is that the hospitality industry in the State has become a soft-target for various lobbies. There are three issues here, which need immediate solution.

TTAG is already fighting a court battle over the problems posed to the hotels and travel agencies by the tourist taxi operators who perennially obstruct the operations of tour operators from star resorts insisting that only taxies must be utilised for ferrying around tourists."

TTAG has taken a stand in the court that it is the discretion of the tourists to decide the mode of travel and taxi operators cannot compel them to use only taxies.

But the latest wrangle is with television broadcasters who have slapped notices, even gone to courts, asking the hotels to negotiate with them directly for channel connectivity to hotel rooms. "I will first approach the Tourism Department with a request to intervene and persuade the broadcasters to agree to some regulatory mechanism. If that does not happen, we will take recourse to court."

Music industry

The third issue is the complaints of the music industry over infringement of rights of recorded music under IPR and PPL by hotels. Especially during the last couple of peak seasons many hotels found themselves facing embarrassment and awkward moments with stoppage of live music and programmes from music industry representatives.

What is worrying about this issue is the arbitrary claims made, hefty bills and law suits.

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