Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa

No ‘I do’ near sand dunes, turtle nesting sites

Posted on February 13, 2017 by crtgoa9020

Such rules should also apply to weddings that the star hotels host on the beach.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/report-no-i-do-near-sand-dunes-turtle-nesting-sites/articleshow/57115749.cms

Picture perfect weddings on Goa’s sandy shores, with a setting sun in backgorund, have received a reality check with the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, which reports to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, saying beachweddings should not be permitted in ecologically sensitive areas.

The report, which has been submitted to the state, contains guidelines for the use of beaches or private lands in coastal regulation zone (CRZ) area for recreational activities such as destination weddings and private parties. It also recommends that permissions for beach weddings should be given only after a nod from the Goa coastal zone management authority.

“Wedding tourism activities shall not be permitted in ecologically sensitive areas, sand dunes and designated turtle nesting sites,” the report said.

“However, they could be permitted in other areas including private areas on a case to case basis with the prior permission of the GCZMA,” the report also said.

Destination weddings on Goa’s beaches have become a huge money spinner for the state and a rough estimate by the government suggests that over 800 high-end weddings are organized in Goa annually. The events bring in ‘high quality’ tourists, including non-resident Indians (NRI) and overseas citizens of India (OCI) who spend large amounts of money and generate business for local entrepreneurs.

The guidelines stipulate that the stage for beach weddings should be temporary and that vegetation must not be removed or damaged. “Use of modular steel stages which can be easily assembled and dismantled should be adopted. The tourism department shall ensure that such beach wedding set ups do not unreasonably block free movement of public on beaches and no permanent damage should be caused to the beach and natural surfaces such as rock formations should not be altered or changed,” the report goes on to say.

These guidelines will also apply to weddings organized in villages that are within the 200m CRZ area.

Interestingly, the tourism department has already stopped entertaining applications seeking permission to organize beach weddings unless applicants obtain permission from GCZMA, which has jurisdiction in CRZ areas.

“There shall be no digging or disturbance of sand on public beaches. The structures should not remain for more than three days per event and should be dismantled,” the report states.

The report also states that cleanliness of the beaches shall be the complete responsibility of organizers when such weddings are organized on public beach.

Posted in Environment | Leave a comment

Goa losing its peace and quite

Posted on February 13, 2017 by crtgoa9020

Promoting something that is not our culture and our way of life will only be a novelty for a short time . Goa is losing its returning tourists who came for the quite and the relaxing time.

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Posted in Beaches of Goa | Leave a comment

Report recommends removal of some shacks from Baga-Sinquerim stretch

Posted on February 7, 2017 by crtgoa9020

Are shacks the only structures that add to the carrying capacity of the beach what about the big hotel structures that are extended right on to the beach which in most cases are permanent.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/report-recommends-removal-of-some-shacks-from-baga-sinquerim-stretch/articleshow/57009618.cms

Shack operators along the Baga-Sinquerim stretch may see jittery times ahead, as a report by a central government agency has found that its carrying capacity has been exceeded. It recommended cutting eight shacks from the current 196.

Interestingly, the report stated that the carrying capacity hasn’t been exceeded anywhere except the Baga-Sinquerim stretch and Ozrant, Anjuna. It also stated that the carrying capacity for erection of beach shacks is available on all beaches except these two. The report, submitted to the state government, has been prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, which comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

“Therefore, the number of shacks may be restricted to 188 as against the earlier allotment of 196 shacks,” the report states. “In Ozrant, the capacity is exceeded by 5 shacks, hence the number of shacks shall be restricted to 3 as against the earlier allotment of 8.”

In order to determine the carrying capacity of shacks and other temporary structures in private areas, a set of three indicators was developed — overcrowding, tourist infrastructure, and area available for tourists and residents.

The report stated that from the assessment of carrying capacity based on commercial activities (beach shacks) and balance space, carrying capacity has been exceeded in Palolem, Agonda, Siridao, Vainginim and Coco beach.

It also recommended that no shack should be allowed on the Palolem and Siradao beach stretches.

“It is also noticed that is a large number of shacks and other temporary structures (huts/ tents/ cottages) in private lands in Palolem, and hence would not justify the allotment of any shacks on the beach by the department of tourism,” the report stated.

The North Goa beach belt (Calangute-Baga-Candolim-Siquerim) has a total of 1,169 hotels with 11,693 rooms and 12,460 beds. In addition, there are 196 shacks allotted by the state government.

“Considering the availability of hotels and rooms, it is recommended that no additional temporary structures, huts, tents, or cottages may be permitted for erection in private areas,” the report stated.

On the other beach stretches of North Goa, Anjuna-Vagator and Pernem, the report stated that the erection of shacks and other temporary structures shall be permitted in private lands following principles and procedures in the report.

Posted in Beaches of Goa | Leave a comment

No public facilities for tourists at Candolim

Posted on January 28, 2017 by crtgoa9020

The government is the busiest at this time to reclaim them seats and get re-elected….all other needs are on the back buner

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/no-public-facilities-for-tourists-at-candolim/articleshow/56820813.cms

While the tourism department keeps announcing high profile, big ticket projects like cable cars and sea planes, Candolim beach still lacks basic facilities like changing rooms and toilets for tourists even two and half years after the foundation stone was laid for these projects.

The proposed changing rooms and toilets at Candolim and Aguada which had been scheduled to be built before the start of the peak tourist season are nowhere in sight and now unlikely to be completed any time soon due to the state assembly elections. The foundation stone for these public facilities had been laid in June 2014 by then chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

In late September 2016, while replying to queries from TOI, director of tourism Sanjeev Dessai had said that the proposal to build changing rooms and toilets at Candolim and Aguada had been approved by the state and central governments, and that the Centre had been approached for funds under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. “The funds have been sanctioned and works are at the tendering stage,” he had said.

Tourism stake-holders, like water sports operators say the lack of public toilets and changing rooms at Candolim is affecting the tourism business in Candolim as tourists prefer going to Calangute, where there are a number of public toilets and changing rooms.

In the absence of public toilets, women tourists are inconvenienced the most, while male tourists simply relieve themselves in the open, even defecating in the sand dunes, locals said.

Posted in Beaches of Goa | Leave a comment

Loo profile at coco beach

Posted on January 18, 2017 by crtgoa9020

I hope GTDC is reading this ….. what is the need of the hour is conveniently overlooked by Nilesh Cabral. he only finds areas that are not his concerns

loo