Govt plan to stop small hotels to hit Goan bizmen: Ex-MLA

Calangute: Former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes on Friday slammed the tourism department’s plan to ‘freeze budget hotels’ in the C and D categories, announced by tourism minister Rohan Khaunte. Fernandes claimed that this is yet another attempt by BJP govt to drive locals out of the tourism industry.“Tourism has to benefit the locals. When the first five-star resort was being built in Sinquerim, people had objected, but then govt said tourism will benefit the locals who can build small guesthouses, restaurants and other businesses. Now they’ve announced that they will stop issuing permissions for C and D category hotels/guesthouses and those who are there will have to upgrade,” said Fernandes“It is to benefit big hotels that govt wants to reduce the number. These big hotels have been built only for mass tourism. They are saying they want to attract high-end tourists, but those quality tourists will not stay in these hotels,” he adds.