Hampi, Khajuraho on list for G20 culture track

The Indian Express | 5 hours ago | 17-10-2022 | 05:40 am

AS PART of India’s G20 Presidency between December 2022 and November 2023, the Government is planning to host five key meetings focusing on the “culture track” at Khajuraho, Bhubaneswar, Hampi and Agra, The Indian Express has learnt.These cities have been chosen mainly for well-known monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Taj Mahal and Agra Fort (UP), the Hindu and Jain temples of Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), the Konark Sun Temple around 65 km from Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and the sites at Hampi (Karnataka). Agra will host two of the five meetings, it is learnt.The Government had announced last month that there will be 215 meetings in all, spread across 55 sites, covering most states during India’s G20 presidency. The main summit will be held in September at Delhi’s International Exhibition Cum Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan, which is presently under construction and will be ready by mid-2023.For the culture track, a G20 Secretariat has been set up in the Ministry of Culture, which will hire a professional agency “for research, documentation and coordination work for the G20 work-stream of culture”, according to records reviewed by The Indian Express. Besides the five meetings, around 250 cultural events will be held on the sidelines for delegates for the duration of the G20 presidency, officials said.Setting the cultural agenda for the meetings, the records state: “This presidency also provides a fantastic opportunity for India to shape the global agenda on culture across multiple work streams and engagement areas. These include: a) protection and restitution of cultural property; b) advancement of traditional cultural practices for sustainable living; c) promotion of cultural and creative industries for livelihood generation; and d) preservation and dissemination of culture by leveraging technology.”Earlier, Siliguri, Rann of Kutch, Kashmir and Goa had been finalised as destinations for various G20 meetings by the Ministry of Tourism. Officials said India’s presidency will be used as an opportunity to push the country as a preferred tourist destination, with delegates to be taken on familiarisation tours.During the G20 Presidency starting December 1 this year, India will invite Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and UAE as guest countries. The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries — Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US — and the European Union.

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Goa to earn additional Rs 50 crore/year from beer excise hike

Times of India | 1 day ago | 16-10-2022 | 06:39 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 16-10-2022 | 06:39 am

PANAJI: The recent hike in excise duty on beer will net the cash-strapped Goa government an additional Rs 50 crore on an annual basis. Goa's liquor industry, which sells close to six million cases of beer every year, has accepted the Rs 10-12 increase in prices, but cautioned the government against tinkering with prices of hard liquor on the eve of the tourist season.The state earns around Rs 500cr a year on excise collections. The Goa government hiked the excise duty on beer by Rs 10-12 per bulk litre, while leaving the excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and foreign liquor unchanged. Attempts to increase excise duty on IMFL and foreign liquor will have a ripple effect on Goa's tourism industry and the coming wedding season, said a major alcohol retailer and wholesale dealer. "Beer is a low-hanging fruit and the increase is fine. The question is whether the IMFL and foreign liquor prices will also be increased," said the retailer, who did not wish to be named. Annually, the excise department earns around Rs 500 crore through excise collections. Goa, which has always been known for cheap alcohol rates and liberal drinking policies, is no longer the country's cheapest liquor destination. Hard liquor rates in Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh are more affordable, and many north Indian travellers have stopped purchasing hard liquor while flying back home after a wedding, holiday, or business trip. The Maharashtra government has also threatened to invoke the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act on people who bring liquor from Goa into the state, a move that many have described as "fear mongering" and blown out of proportion. However, alcohol retailers have already seen a "significant drop" in sales of hard liquor "What is worrisome is that the government does not take stakeholders into confidence," said a South Goa-based retailer. "Increasing excise duty is the government's prerogative, but it should not happen just before the season starts. Establishments have printed new menus, purchase orders have been placed and budgeting has happened. Any sudden increase squeezes the margins and locks up working capital." Speaking to TOI, a government official said the excise department chose to touch only beer prices because IMFL and foreign liquor rates are already comparable with neighbouring states. "The government will earn around Rs 50 crores additional revenue over a year by increasing beer prices," said the government source. "It will not lead to a shift towards drinking hard liquor because people drink as per tastes and not based on prices." For a person consuming alcohol at a bar or restaurant, beer prices will jump significantly, because aside from the excise duty which will be factored into the price, VAT will also be levied on the sale. "The state government needs to look at Delhi and other states and try to earn revenue by increasing volumes," said Goa bar and restaurant owners association president, Michael Carrasco. Stakeholders from the alcohol-beverage industry said that while the government rakes in revenue from alcohol sales, the funds should be used to collect and recycle the millions of bottles that are subsequently discarded or broken.

Goa: Protesters seek Rohan Khaunte’s resignation over jetty policy

Times of India | 2 days ago | 15-10-2022 | 09:22 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 15-10-2022 | 09:22 am

PANAJI: Voluntary organisations, Congress and Revolutionary Goans, on Friday, protested outside Paryatan Bhavan at Panaji to oppose the proposed jetty policy. The protesters sought tourism minister Rohan Khaunte's resignation for attempting to introduce the policy, which they said lacked clarity. The proposed jetty policy was thrown open for public suggestions and objections last month, and since then the tourism department has twice extended the last date to receive objections. While the policy has been in the making for several years, the draft was readied only recently, with the tourism minister being very clear that he wants a system in place to operate jetties under the domain of the tourism department. "The proposed jetty policy is not backed by a scientific study. It is vague and lacks clarity," said environmet activist Abhijit Prabhudesai. Opposition leader Yuri Alemao, who also joined the protest, said the proposed draft policy will be "disastrous for Goa's ecology," and that it should not be allowed in its present form. "We will oppose the policy which has been prepared without taking people into confidence. The tourism department is not equipped to draft such policies," he said. RG chief Manoj Parab said that people should oppose the policy. "I appeal to all to reject the policy, protest in your village, and do not allow the policy to be approved," Parab said.

Jetty policy not for coal, fishing: Khaunte

Times of India | 2 days ago | 15-10-2022 | 04:35 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 15-10-2022 | 04:35 am

Panaji: Amid strong protest against the draft jetty policy 2022, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Friday clarified that it is only for the existing jetties for tourism activities and not for coal, fishing or any other activities.Khaunte said that he will rename jetty policy as tourism jetty policy as the former has wider ambit. He added that to generate employment and clear illegalities, the policy was required.“Tourism policy is meant for tourism and for nothing else. Let protestors tell where coal and fishing jetties are mentioned in the policy. We will regulate what is irregulated as far as services are concerned, as it is impacting the state’s tourism sector. we will take public view and go ahead,” he said.“We have never spoken on constructing new jetties. It is not our right to construct jetties, but it is the captain of ports’ right to decide on construction of new jetties. Where we are getting into this. We are very clear that we are sticking to our point,” Khaunte said.The state government has extended the time for filing objections and suggestions for the draft jetty policy till October 31 for the public.Khaunte said, “We are clear and transparent. We are accountable to the people and stand by it. We will invite protesters post-October 31 to discuss the policy.”Speaking to media persons near the BJP headquarters, Khaunte raised doubt whether protesters have really read the policy.“Those who think they are intelligent and know every subject should first know that we are sticking to our words of saying it is tourism jetty policy. Jetty policy is only meant for tourism activities. In the policy there is no mention of coal, fishing and allied services. Those who are creating these stories are trying to misguide the people of the state,” Khaunte said.The tourism minister said that the draft policy is both in English and Konkani as per the demand of the public.Reacting to the protest, Khaunte said that it is everybody’s right to protest in democracy. “I appeal them to first understand the policy. If something is doing good for the state, then support it. It has become a habit to oppose each and everything. Government today is very clear that we need to get our things in a clear functioning manner. Today, we face a threat from neighbouring states to Goa tourism and we have to get our acts right,” Khaunte said.The tourism minister said that those who have put their objection and suggestion, the government is holding talks with them.

Amit Shah assures CM Pramod Sawant of resolving UK e-visa matter soon

Times of India | 3 days ago | 14-10-2022 | 08:43 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 14-10-2022 | 08:43 am

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that Union home minister Amit Shah has assured to resolve at the earliest the UK e-visa issue that has proved a damper for Goa’s tourism industry this season even as the sector is trying to recover from the hit it took during the pandemic years. Tourists from the UK form the largest number of overseas visitors to the state and the chief minister had met Shah on Wednesday and discussed the issue of the e-visa among other matters pertaining to the state, including that of mining resumption. Shah assured the CM of reducing the export duty on low-grade iron ore to facilitate mining to restart in the state. “I have discussed the e-visa issue and Shah has assured me that e-visas will soon be issued to citizens of the UK and other countries,” Sawant said, adding that he explained the importance of UK tourists to Goa’s tourism industry and the impact it will have on the state’s tourism sector in case they don’t come. Non-issuance of e-visas to UK travellers had led to cancellation of charters from the UK to Goa, this year. India’s changed rules have increased the wait and hassle involved in getting a tourist visa by way of the requirement for a traveller to make physical visits to the visa centre preceded by a prolonged wait for an appointment for the same. The Union government had stopped issuing e-visas during the pandemic but recently restored it for some countries. Hotelier Ralph de Sousa said that there are long queues for Indian visas for citizens from the UK and some other countries. “If the Union government does not issue e-visas then the UK tourists will not visit Goa and it will affect our tourism season.” Sousa, however, said that Goa will receive charters from Russia. After Russia, the UK has been the biggest market for the state and receives repeat tourists. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically changed the scene. Recently the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) petitioned the chief minister to take up with the Centre the matter of issuing e-visas to citizens of the UK and other nations that have been excluded so far. Goa did not receive charter tourists last season, while another category of travellers — free, independent travellers (FITs) — largely avoided visiting India after the UK was excluded from the list of countries eligible for Indian e-visas. Speaking on the mining issue, Sawant informed Shah about leases that have been put up for auction and urged him to reduce the export duty on low-grade iron ore so that the auction can get a good response. “Shah has assured me to reduce export duty,” Sawant said. In May, the Union government increased export duty on iron ore below 58 grade from zero to 50%. Most of the iron ore produced in Goa is low grade (below 58 grade), and most of it is exported. The Union government also hiked export duty on iron ore above 58 grade to 50% from the existing 30%. After the intervention of former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, the Centre in 2016 had reduced the export duty on below 58 grade iron ore to 0% to boost its export from Goa.

Goa could lose Rs 100 crore if UK visa issues not sorted out: Travel body

Times of India | 3 days ago | 14-10-2022 | 08:16 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 14-10-2022 | 08:16 am

PANAJI: A prominent travel trade body said on Thursday that if the delays in issuance of visas to UK travellers are not reduced, Goa's tourism sector could possibly see losses to the tune of Rs 80-100 crore. "Even if we assume that 10,000 travellers cancel their holiday plans to Goa, the overall impact on the hotel industry would be huge. The average stay of a (charter) tourist being ten nights, we would lose around 1 lakh rooms," said TTAG president Nilesh Shah. Smaller hotels are highly dependent on charter tourists, while the past two seasons were extremely bad for them even as starred hotels remain afloat, with Goa becoming a preferred destination for all segments of desi tourists. The state has around 400-500 hotels with three and fewer stars. Apart from the loss to hotels, which would be around Rs 30 crore, Shah said that a multiplier effect will escalate losses for the industry. Tourists may go where visas are easier: TTAG Tourists spend on transport, liquor, food, entertainment, as well as shopping. If all factors are considered, the overall impact on the economy could be in the range of Rs 80-100 crore," Shah said. Even as the tourism industry has survived the pandemic with increased domestic footfalls, Shah said it is crucial for Goa that it does not lose the UK, because it is not easy to regain lost markets. Currently, with the wait period to get a normal visa being two to three months for a UK citizen, the TTAG president said that if steps are not taken to issue visas expeditiously, leave alone e-visas, potential travellers will likely avoid Goa, and may go to Bali, Turkey, Thailand, or any other destination that issues visa without hassle. "Once a customer moves out of the destination, it is difficult to recapture a market. Goa has experienced it. After charters from countries such as Finland, Germany, and Poland were stopped a few years ago, it has not been able to reclaim them," Shah said. While India does not issue e-visas to UK citizens, they also face difficulties in securing regular visas. A recent change in visa rules requires a British holidaymaker to appear in person at the visa centre. While operators are seeing regular cancellations of bookings to Goa, Shah said that they have not yet received the exact numbers of bookings cancelled so far. A local operator also told TOI that they would have more clarity over total bookings cancelled by next week. Before Covid hit, Goa would annually receive around 45,000 charter travellers and a few more thousands of free independent travellers (FITs), but since March 2020, it has not received a single charter from England. Last season, Tui Airways cancelled its Goa plan due to the third wave of Covid as well as India not issuing e-visas to UK visitors. This season, it had committed to fly four flights a week from next month, but brought down the number to one, with its clients cancelling bookings due to visa-related issues.

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