Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa

PRESS RELEASE

Consequent to the All Taxi Bandh at the outset of this year, the Government agreed to resolve the several pending demands of the Tourist Taxi Associations. In the subsequent two meetings organised with stakeholders the government categorically decided to put a stop to OLA Cabs, revise the rates in discussion with the Transport department, display the revised rates in the hotel premises and other prominent places visible to the tourists and the like.

Six months later, the Tourist Taxi Associations are still awaiting the fulfilment of the promises. Though the rates are revised, they are not displayed in the hotel lobby nor in other prominent places as a result, public continue to accuse the taxi operators of over-charging though they demand only for the gazetted rates by the government. The OLA Cabs have re-submitted their request to operate and the government is silent about it. The illegal operations of the Russian reps continued till the end of the season. The Hotels continue to operate taxis despite their assurances to utilise their taxis only for their staff. The TTAG continues to enjoy the largesse to operate the tours charging the tourists in foreign currency without any problems.

TTAG and others claim that the tourism business is diminishing in the state because tourist taxi operators over-charge. We would like to state that when a tourist decides to visit the state he/she checks for the rates of the hotel where he/she will stay and then decides the holiday destination. The ruthless pricing of hotels during the season is what deters the tourists to come to Goa and then they move for holidays elsewhere. The taxi operation will be known to them subsequently only after they are in the state.

The taxis operators are blamed for the flourishing of ‘Massage Parlours’ which nearly function as brothels. The tourists are well aware of the availability of ‘such services’ hence the tourists request the taxi operators to transport them to ‘such parlours’. We would like to inquire who licenses ‘such parlours’ and permits them to operate even though most are illegal? Why blame the taxi operators for the irresponsibility of other monitoring agencies.

Because of the absolute Inaction of the Government, the North Goa Tourist Taxi Association have called for an emergency general body meeting to coincide with the forthcoming Assembly proceedings to decide the next course of action. This Government has always kept us happy with numerous assurances but with total inaction.

Vinayak Nanoskar

General Secretary

Read more at – http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Taxi-owners-say-govt-has-not-kept-promises/articleshow/38637505.cms

Tourist taxi operators in Goa have threatened to resort to a strike on February 24 if the operation of Olacabs in Goa is not immediately stopped by the government.

The decision was taken by the North Goa tourist taxi owners association (NGTTOA), South Goa tourists tax owners association (SGTTOA) and the federation of tourist taxi owners and drivers association of Goa (FTTAG) at a joint meeting held in coordination with centre for responisble tourism in Panaji on Wednesday.

The meeting raised issues of government inaction and failure to implement promises that had been made in the wake of recent clashes between illegal Russian representatives and local taxi drivers, said NGTTOA’s president Vasu Arlekar. “The CM’s assurance that there will be surprise raids conducted has not been fulfilled,” siad SGTTOA’s president Seby Fernandes,.

Tourist taxi operators in Goa have threatened to resort to a strike on February 24 if the operation of Olacabs in Goa is not immediately stopped by the government.

The decision was taken by the North Goa tourist taxi owners association (NGTTOA), South Goa tourists tax owners association (SGTTOA) and the federation of tourist taxi owners and drivers association of Goa (FTTAG) at a joint meeting held in coordination with centre for responisble tourism in Panaji on Wednesday.

The meeting raised issues of government inaction and failure to implement promises that had been made in the wake of recent clashes between illegal Russian representatives and local taxi drivers, said NGTTOA’s president Vasu Arlekar. “The CM’s assurance that there will be surprise raids conducted has not been fulfilled,” siad SGTTOA’s president Seby Fernandes,.

TNN | Feb 20, 2014, 02.56AM IST

Link – http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tourist-taxi-operators-threaten-strike-over-Olacabs/articleshow/30695151.cms

The call for taxi strike in Goa given by taxi unions on Monday is likely to badly hit the tourism industry. With the taxi unions planning to go off the road to register their protest over various issues, tourists will find it difficult to commute, industry sources said.

The taxi unions have planned to go on strike from 6 am to 6 pm on February 24 to press for their demands. The taxi unions are angry with the government for not fulfilling the assurances given by the government and that latest provocation for them is the entry of Olacabs into Goa.

Olacabs announced their launch in Goa with around 50 cabs earlier this month.On the other hand, the director of transport Arun Desai has said they have not even applied for permission to run their operations. Some taxi operators have alleged that the Mumbai-based company has made its entry only with the backing of the bigwigs of the ruling party. “Why is the government shying away from taking action against them when they don’t have the permission to operate?”, a union leader asked.

North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president Vasudev Arlekar said that the government has failed to implement the subsidy scheme for old taxis and curb private operators from running taxi business.

A member of the association said to beat the high unemployment rate in Goa, many locals have taken up self-employment by joining taxi business but the government seems to be supporting outside lobbies against the local interests.

While North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners Association president said on Sunday that many other taxi unions are going to support the strike all along the coastal belt from Canacona to Pernem, it is not clear as to whether the strike would be total or not. Sources said that in a damage control exercise, some political party officials are in touch with coastal MLAs of the ruling dispensation to see that the strike is not a huge success.

The police are gearing up for the strike and sources said that patrolling would be intensified along coastal belt to prevent law and order situation.

The strike call comes in the backdrop of clashes between the taxi union members and Russians who have entered taxi business clandestinely.

Tall promises are made by the government when meetings are called to resolve issue but they remain only on paper, Arlekar said.

Vijay Desouza, TNN | Feb 23, 2014, 05.12PM IST

Link – http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Taxi-strike-in-Goa-may-hit-tourists-badly/articleshow/30906131.cms