Panaji: With the aim to improve ease of doing business in Goa’s tourism and hospitality sector, NITI Aayog has proposed extending the validity of bar licences from one year to five years. It also proposed to replace multiple liquor permits with a single licence for hotels covering all service areas within the same premises.
The Centre’s premier public policy think tank, in its report ‘titled “Unlocking Growth in Tourism and Hospitality Sector,” it advised the Goa Excise Department to amend the State Excise Act and Rules for simplify the licences process.
As per the NITI Aayog report, Goa is among at least seven States where bar licences are valid only for one year. These six other states are – Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam. The Centre’s policy think tank said that these one year licences could harm long-term investment by creating unnecessary complexity in compliance rules.
According to reports, the yearly licence fee in Goa ranges from Rs 40,000 to Rs 3.7 lakh based on the category of the licence. The NITI Aayog’s report also underscored that getting rid of frequent renewals or allowing auto-renewals would significantly reduce recurring costs of compliance. The NITI Aayog also proposed to get rid of multiple licences within hotels and replace it with a single licence covering all service areas.
Notably, currently, hotels are not allowed to serve alcohol to guests at different locations with a single licence. they have to obtain different licences for different locations within the same hotel.
NITI Aayog On Homestays In Goa:
According to reports, NITI Aayog has also proposed key reforms regarding homestays in the state. The Centre’s policy think tank reportedly called upon the state government to scrap the mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from village panchayats or municipal authorities. and advised the state government to introduce a self-registration system.
At present, homestay owners reportedly have to comply with at least 11 regulatory requirements.