Tourism minister advocates for tech in taxi sector

Panaji: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday rebuffed suggestions on taxi aggregators being curbed or banned, saying that govt backs the use of technology in the tourism sector, including taxi operations.
Khaunte said that MLAs from the coastal belt, including Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, need to encourage taxi operators to come on board the two taxi aggregators that operate in the state.
“Aggregators are required to regulate and get these things out. This issue about taxis, which keeps coming up, needs to be closed once and for all as it is affecting tourism at large,” said Khaunte.
He said that it was up to the chief minister to take a decision if more taxi aggregator apps are required to be permitted in Goa in the future. Currently, tourists and locals have the option of using the GoaMiles taxi app or the Goa Taxi app. Taxi operators also hinted at introducing their own app-based service, but it was never launched.
“Technology is required. There is no further compromise on technology. The chief minister is firm about this, the rest of us are convinced, and Michael was also on board,” said Khaunte.
He also blamed touts for most of the illegal activities linked to the tourism industry.
“Whether watersports, taxis, or other things, a lot of these businesses can be regulated and be made transparent. It will put an end to touts. In all these activities, there are illegal touts. As long as touts remain in Goa, we will continue our drives. We need to find out where these touts come from, where they stay, and what they are up to,” said Khaunte.
The tourism minister also clarified his stand on shacks serving South Indian cuisine. He said that with a wide variety of tourists flocking to the state’s shores, multiple options need to be provided to the tourists.
“In the policy, we have said that fish curry rice has to be there on the menu. Now, the shacks get English tourists, Russian tourists, and Indian tourists. The shacks need to cater to all their choices. We have to ensure that we don’t say that all tourists have to eat only fish curry rice,” said Khaunte.



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