Tech-based transportation solutions now a norm: Tourism body

Goas apex tourism body on Monday said technology-based transportation solutions have become a norm world-wide and hailed the state government for not accepting the demand to scrap an app-based taxi service.

Tourist taxi operators in Goa had resorted to a week- long strike earlier this month in support of their demands, key among them was scrapping the app-based cab service, Goa Miles.

Though the BJP government agreed to look into their other demands, it remained firm in its support for Goa Miles, launched last year with backing from state-run GTDC.

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), in a statement here, said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant "displayed great courage" by not bowing down to the influential tourist taxi lobby with regards to the app-based cab service.

"The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa congratulates the Chief Minister on the strong and decisive leadership displayed by him on the tourist taxi issue, it said.

The association said technology-based transportation solutions are need of the hour.

"Transportation solutions which involve technology, especially app-based taxis, are a more efficient and fairer mechanism of price discovery and utilisationof assets and are today the norm across most of the world, TTAG said.

"Goa cannot afford to be left behind in this space as it will render us noncompetitive. The CM and his cabinet have displayed great courage in seeing that we progress on this front, the union added.

The app-based cab service, an initiative of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), is aimed at easing travel woes of holidaymakers and help local taxi drivers earn more. The service operates through a mobile phone application.