Tearing apart the draft tourism policy 2018, some ruling MLAs on Wednesday rejected the policy claiming that it is not in sync with the “essential features” of Goa. Moreover, the MLAs expressed their shock on learning that the government has approved the tourism master plan: it has been claimed that the plan has been in force since 2016.

Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who has taken up the cudgel for planned tourism, told media persons after attending a presentation on the tourism policy in the ministerial block at the secretariat that he does not agree to the tourism policy as well as the tourism master plan. “Tourism policy is not the answer… it will not increase tourist footfall overnight. First of all, we must put our house in order… otherwise, we should not go ahead with the policy.

A total of Rs 5 crore is being spent on formulating the plan and the policy; of which Rs 3 crore has already been paid to the consultant firm…” he said, adding that the government will save at least Rs 2 crore of public exchequer if it does not go ahead with the policy formulation.