As per reports, the tourism department has commenced the demarcation process of beach shacks along Goa’s North coastal belt, which includes Calangute, Candolim and Anjuna. Officials are expecting the exercise to be completed within another two weeks. The start of this process of area allotment for the beach shacks, has provided a major relief to many business owners as they have been waiting to resume their operations soon. This year, due to the pandemic at hand, the previously chalked out schedule for October has been delayed.
Making the most out of the domestic tourists’ footfall
However, in South Goa, this exercise is yet to take place as the tourism department has stated that there’s a lack of manpower to go-ahead with it. Many officials from this department have taken up covid related duties at the South Goa Collectorate building so this is going to take some time. Meanwhile, the tourism department has already written a letter to the South Goa Collector, requesting him to release the concerned staff, so that the demarcation process of South Goan shacks can be concluded ASAP.
The beach shack owners are hoping to get their shacks up and running, by the first week of November as the approaching Diwali holiday season, might boost their sales. As of now, the state is witnessing domestic tourists as foreign arrivals through charter flights is yet to be functional.
The tourism stakeholders are hoping to make the most out of the domestic tourists’ footfall. In a first, the state government has also decided to provide a 50% concession in the fees of beach shack operating license. This rebate has been offered as a relaxation with respect to the losses incurred due to the pandemic and extensive lockdown.
