News: Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Panaji,Jun 19:  Goa Chief Minister, Digamber Kamat, on Friday assured to review the latest cess imposed on hospitality industry, which was protested by the tourism industry players.

He was addressing the installation ceremony of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa ( TTAG), an apex body of tourism trade.

 “Government will re-examine the issues raised by the tourism industry. We will do whatever best to attract more tourists in the state,” Kamat said reacting to tourism industry’s demands of revision of additional five per cent cess levied on room rents and Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on food and breweries in the state.

“The state government considers tourism as the priority for the state. It’s for us to see that tourists are cared for,” he added.

TTAG was rueful towards state government’s act of imposing additional cess during the time when international tourist inflow had slipped by 20 per cent post-Mumbai terror attack.

The chief minister said that the schemes like beach safety management, implemented through private firm, are taken up to ensure safety of the guests visiting the state.

   “Number of deaths due to drowning has drastically reduced after beach management scheme was implemented. This has sent good signal to tourist that government of Goa cares for their safety,” he added.

Referring to the bad publicity earned by Goa in recent past, the chief minister said that any tourism destination with international reach run a risk of having good or bad publicity. “But, we all need to work together and see how we can increase good things and reduce bad things. This could be attained by working hand in hand with tourism industry,” he suggested.