Goa's industry demands police protection for tour operators and cruise terminal

PANAJI: Appreciating the swift crack down on taxi drivers who created a ruckus for foreign tourists at the cruise terminal, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) recommended that police protection must be provided to tour operators.
GCCI has also recommended that clear cut guidelines need to be put in place to prevent similar unruly scenes from occurring again.
The industry body, which had said that it is shocked to hear how the cruise passengers were “practically held hostage” by the taxi drivers, said that the government must make more arrests to send a stern message.
“This is the first time that criminal proceedings were initiated in the shortest possible time and the culprits arrested by the law enforcing authorities,” said GCCI president Ralph De Sousa. “The chamber is thankful for the seriousness shown by the government in this matter. GCCI requests for more arrests and a speedy trial to so that a stern message is passed to all concerned.”
To prevent “miscreants” from creating a ruckus at the Mormugao Port cruise terminal, Sousa has called for a high level committee headed by the South Goa district collector to oversee cruise tourism.
“A committee be consisting of the district magistrate, port authorities, representatives of tour operators, taxi operators, local police and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) should be formed and all stake holders should be sensitised on the gravity of the situation,” said Sousa.
GCCI’s demands come after taxi drivers harassed cruise passengers who had arrived aboard the cruise ship MV Ocean Odessey and who had prebooked a tour package for Goa. The tourists were forced to return to the ship despite paying for immigration formalities because the local taxi union blocked the tour buses.
GCCI has also called for standard operating procedures to be drawn up specifically for handling tourist vehicles. The procedures should be circulated among all stake holders.
“Adequate police protection should be provided. The GTDC counter at the cruise terminal should be made operational and only registered vehicles should be allowed to conduct business as per GTDC directives,” said Sousa.
GCCI reiterated that the commuter has the sole right to decide on the mode of transport.