No major New-Year event planned, Goa government might reconsider fee
With no big-ticket entertainment event scheduled for New Year in Goa, the state government today said it could reconsider the fees levied on them in case organizers sought a reduction. The state, among the most vibrant in terms of parties and events to ring in the New Year, has no Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival, a regular feature since 2006, this time.
Permission-fee for organizing a mega event hiked to Rs. 1cr
Several event organizers claimed that a steep rise in permission-fees levied by the state Tourism Department and the Home department for police protection have played dampener. The permission fee for having an event of this magnitude in Goa has been hiked to Rs. 1cr, they said. Goa Tourism Minister, Manohar Ajgaonkar, said if demands from organizers come, the government is ready to consider it.
Sports events also facing problem due to huge hike: Ajgaonkar
Agreeing that the fees are a drawback, Ajgaonkar said, "I had spoken to the CM asking him to reconsider the fee being charged to provide police protection for such events," adding due to that hike, not only tourism events, even sports events are facing problems.
Why charge Rs. 1cr when we're paying taxes, asks TTAG
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an umbrella body of tourism stakeholders, said the fee levied by the Tourism department's Permission Committee is driving away event organizers. "What's the reason for charging Rs. 1cr as fee for an event when we are paying taxes to the government and are holding events in private places with our infrastructure?" questioned TTAG president Savio Messiah.
