Panaji, Oct 22 (TOI): The teething problems at the recently-launched e-registration facility for tourism trades and services at Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, have subsided and the system is up and running. The department of tourism has issued 500 e-registration certificates as on date through the e-registration facilitation centre.

The new system will streamline the functioning of the tourism department and procedural delays in issuance of certificates to traders are also lessened.

Tourism director Ameya Abhyankar said, "We receive around 45 new applications daily and after completing all procedures the authorized e-registration certificates are issued to the applicants. As many as 40 to 45 e-registration certificates are issued daily."

Since the launch of the new facility, a total of 914 applications have been received. These have come from water sports operators, taxi operators, travel agents and hotels.

A total of 388 taxi operators and 123 water sports operators have received authorized e-registration certificates till date. He further said that the RFC was launched just before the commencement of the tourism season so that all tourism stakeholders could avail of this new facility and launch operations after procuring registrations within a short period of time.

Soon after the launch of the new service, there was a technical snag preventing online registrations which caused an uproar with the tourism stakeholders.

Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar said, "It is a big achievement to issue 500 e-registration certificates for various tourism trades. The new facility has reduced the waiting period for registration certificates and the new process is not only fast but also systematic and transparent."