With reference to Goa Tourism Master Pan and policy posted
at the Goa Tourism Department website at the links below is at attempt by
industry to take control of Goa's Politics and
Economy through the cunning manner.
Goa Tourism Master plan provides the framework for
implementation of the master plan that has a vision to make Goa the most preferred
destination around the year for the high spending tourists in India by 2023 and
World Class, international tourism destination by 2030.
Reading of the document reveals that the entire exercise is
orchestrated by two organisations that seeks to take control of the State of
Goa's tourism decision making by forming "Goa Tourism Board" as a
statutory autonomous body that will make promote privatisation of Goa Tourism
Development Corporation Assets and will have sort of supra status like that of
Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board formed with Chief Minister as its
Chairman.
It is proposed that Tourism Minister will be the Chairman of
the Goa Tourism Board and industry has its trickster in place in post of Vice
Chairman who will be nominated by the five industry representatives alone in
the board. Out of these five members two are named 1. President/managing
Committee member of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa 2. Goa Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. Trick that is hoped will get Goa's total tourism under
Industry control as the provisions are well laid out to enact a conspiracy. In
the absence of Minister of Tourism to chair the meeting, Vice-Chairman will do
so. Where the Tourism Minister will be sent on the day of the meeting is best
left for guessing. The point however is clear that Industry the the two named
organisations is desperate to stage coup in Goa Tourism affairs.
And all this is done for what purpose? To satisfy the
masters. And who are the masters? The rich of the world. And who are to be
enslaved? People and Land, Rivers and Ethics. And projects these guys want to
promote by centralising Goa tourism? Golf Courses, Casinos, Gaming and Marinas.
Golf Courses were opposed in Goa from 1997 onward from Canaguinim-Betul,
Amthane, Bambolim, Asvem, Morjim, Harmal, Tiracol and Vanxim. Industry Captains
through Goa Tourism Board will get Department of Tourism to go for Land
Acquisition for these projects. Casinos and Gaming will be relocated to more
suitable undisclosed location. It does not mention Zuari river for obvious
reasons and will be upgraded. Gambling and Gaming are by their essence are
morally objectionable enterprises irrespective amount of people employed or
amount of revenue earned. Casinos has to be shut down and industry must be
dismantled for it is easiest source of turning black money into white.
We have not forgotten that after mischievous leasing of
Zuari river public protests has not allowed to construct any of the two marinas
either in Nauxim or in Sancoale coast from 2010. Yet Goa Tourism Board hopes to
achieve this feat, perhaps by pushing one marina at a time, first the Nauxim
one. Instead of getting the marinas in Zuari its better to scrap the marina to
its abyss!
It is proposed that High Powered Monitoring Committee for
Tourism will be dissolved and Goa Tourism Board will take its functions. This
board will give permissions to all the tourism related events. What is left of
Panchayats? Nothing! All the command activities of Goa Tourism Development
Corporation to be handed over to private sector over the next 10 years as
advised by Goa Tourism Board!
What is stunning is that Goa Tourism Board plans to take
over functions of even Environment Ministry of regeneration of beaches. But
there is a catch there is also going to be Blue Flag Certification for beaches
something that was opposed in case of Velsao Beach following protests by
fishing communities and MLA Alina Saldanha. Goa Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (GCCI) are hardly known to do such things but they want to do such
things and then permit shacks right the edge of the beach for special people.
The people who carried on businesses on beaches has no representation on the
Goa Tourism Board as they don't find favour with industry fathers trying to
hijack Goa's tourism for the filth rich of the world.
In fact its environmental commitment is dubious as it
proposes to facilitate river cruises in in Goa's inland waterways. They no
longer even call them rivers! Even identity of nature is sabotaged. Its
waterways now after Central Government invasion of Goa's rivers turned into
waterways. It agenda is in line with Sagarmala project of constructing more
jetties on Goa's river banks.
The first sufferers in the master plan as per above
mentioned plans are going to be fishing communities who are not even
acknowledged to have been even existing anywhere in Goa! The second line of
suffers are the people of Goa who cherish fish as part of their daily staple
diet.
Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly oppose Tourism master Plan and
Tourism Policy - 2018 and calls upon all sections of society not only to oppose
by also to hold accountable all the members of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as well as Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) for all their
past and present economic, social and environmental sins.
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