MARGAO: Reeling under losses from a sluggish tourist season, Goa’s shack owners have called on the State Tourism Department to extend current shack licences until mid-June. In a formal submission to the Tourism Minister and the Director of Tourism, the Shack Owners Welfare Society-Goa (SOWS) highlighted the challenges faced by shack owners during the past season and proposed a series of operational improvements to ensure a smoother and more profitable 2024-2025 season.
SOWS President Cruz Cardozo noted that shacks were allotted for a three-year period ending in May 2026, with the first year of operation nearly complete. Due to delays, shacks were only allotted in December 2023, shortening the tourist season and impacting business. The society has therefore requested an extension of the current licence period at least until June 10 this year.
To address the issues encountered and improve operations, SOWS has made several key proposals for the next tourist season, like ensuring that the shack licences are issued by August 2024 to allow for full season operation. Shack owners also request for the licence fees to be lowered, to Rs 1,00,000 for ‘A’ Category and Rs 75,000 for ‘B’ Category shacks. They’ve requested the Department to offer flexible payment options and accept the fee through cash, demand draft, card, and UPI.
“For ease of doing business, the government should implement a single window system for all shack-related permissions and clearances,” added Cardozo. He also asserted the need for a SOWS member to be nominated as a representative to the Goa Tourism Board to ensure that shack owners’ concerns are addressed in tourism policy discussions.
Cardozo also listed infrastructure and utility improvements like proper beach illumination, facility to connect shacks to a
sewage treatment plant, reliable water supply and better beach access, to improve the overall experience of tourists visiting Goa’s beaches.
The shack owners have also garnered support from several coastal MLAs, with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas writing to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, recommending an extension. “Would like to request you, if we could make an extension to operate existing shacks till mid- June and/or end June 2024, subject to weather conditions. The above decision could assist local stakeholders,” he said in his letter.