Porvorim, January 2, 2025: To strengthen Tourist safety & security viz a viz regulate water sports activity on beaches, with bringing uniformity in rates charged for watersports activities Tourism Dept to introduce several measures, announced Tourism minister Rohan A Khaunte today after meetings with stakeholders this evening in Mantralaya, Porvorim.
With stakeholders of Tourism, key officials from the Department of Tourism, Captain of Ports, Coastal Security Police, Tourist Police and Presidents of different Water Sports Associations across North and South Goa were present. Several critical issues surrounding water sports were deliberated in this meeting with important suggestions from Government and stakeholder side.
Also present for the press conference were Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary Tourism; Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Director Tourism; Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, MD, (GTDC) and others.
The minister expressed concern regarding the recent boat capsizing incidents and stressed the importance of improving management measures.
To address these challenges, the Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Captain of Ports will formulate a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for water sports activities in state. Tourism Minister Shri Khaunte emphasized that the SOP will ensure the strict adherence to safety norms, enhancing the overall safety and quality of water sports in Goa.
As part of the regulatory measures, the minister announced that all water sports operators must first obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Tourism and be members of Water Sports Associations as a pre-requisite for registration with the Captain of Ports.
While the Captain of Ports retains the authority to grant final permissions, this step ensures that only operators adhering to safety and operational standards are considered for registration.
The tourism minister stated, “We have carefully considered the issues and suggestions put forth by the water sports association. Also have granted them a 15-day time frame to address concerns including implementing uniform rates for water sports activities, ensuring compliance with the queue system and other pressing matters.
It is imperative that the association takes accountability for its members. Following this period, strict enforcement measures will be initiated, with the Captain of Ports and the Coastal Police serving as the primary enforcement authorities, he said further.
Tourism minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment for promoting responsible tourism in Goa, stating, “We are taking strong measures to ensure that water sports operators adhere to the highest safety and operational standards. As we collectively work with the them, we need support from them to work collaboratively.”
The initiatives reflect the government’s dedication to strengthening tourism governance, ensuring visitor safety, and fostering responsible tourism practices.
