PANAJI: The tourism department has submitted a proposal to the government that the chief minister should head the proposed tourism board instead of the tourism minister.
The proposal was placed before the government after Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) suggested that the CM should be nominated chairperson of the board.
“It was felt that it would be practical to have a chief minister at the helm, to ensure faster approval of projects that would need clearance from departments other than tourism,” the officer said.
The tourism policy that was approved in October last year has a provision to constitute a 16-member tourism board, with the tourism minister as its chairman.
The proposal was sent for clearance earlier this week, and approval is awaited.
TTAG president Nilesh Shah confirmed to TOI that they have asked the government that the chief minister be made chairperson of the tourism board.
A TTAG member said they have also suggested a few changes in the composition of the board, such as that the trade body should be given the freedom to select experts who will be appointed on the board rather than government imposing its will.
The official said the suggestion by TTAG is valid considering the trend seen while appointing the board of directors of any corporation.
Apart from officials nominated by a virtue of their position in the corporation or the linked department, he said, other members appointed are choice of the chairperson, who is an MLA.
If the industry not given the choice to appoint their members, he said, the proposed board will be like any other corporation.
A member of the trade said, if they are not given the choice to appoint at least some members of the board, then they don’t expect tourism master plan to be executed in a letter and spirit.