Huge provisions in budget for junkets a 'scam', says Goa Oppn

The state government's decision to propose Rs 50 crore for "marketing" tourism in 2016-17 has invited strong criticism from the Opposition benches which dubbed it as a "scam".
"Stakeholders like Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) in their pre-budget memorandum had specifically requested not to promote junkets, and were of the opinion that money should be spent on providing infrastructure," Independent legislator Vijai Sardesai said.
TTAG had objected to junkets as the government was marketing Goa at wrong places and despite that Rs 50 crore is earmarked for the purpose, he said.
"Junkets have their own reasons. There are vested interests who want to enjoy at the cost of state exchequer," he said.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar in his budget 2016-17 had proposed a budget provision of Rs 50 crore for marketing and promotion activities and Rs 80 crore for tourism infrastructure development.
"Such a huge budget proposed for junkets is a scam. In the past, Congress and Opposition had exposed the massive scam by State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar who had visited many countries from where tourists never come," Congress' Goa spokesman Durgadas Kamat said.
He said such a huge amount is reserved to ensure that money is siphoned off to be used during the upcoming state assembly polls.
"There is no stress on providing good infrastructure for tourists. Hoteliers are suffering because of lack of facilities. Government has misplaced priority," he said.