Goa Tourism Master Plan does not envision new casinos

The upcoming , Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu’ Ajga⭕onkar told the state legislative assembly on Wednesday.

In a written reply to an unstarred question raised by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA 🔜Churchill Alemao, Ajgaonkar said, “All stakeholders involved in the tourism industry would be consuཧlted, before finalising the master plan.”

On a pointed query as to whether new casinos woul🍃d be allowed under the draft tourism plan, Ajgaonkar replied: “No, Sir”.

Incidentally, the Goa cabinet had in 2013 taken a in the state anꦚd not grant any fresh licenses.

Media reports earlier this month had ind♉icated that draft tourism policy created by the state government suggested creating an internationa🦄l gaming cluster to relocate the six exis♓ting offshore casinos.

In August last year, ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had on the floor of the assembly stated that a casino policy would bꦅe unveiled very s💞oon, that would involve shifting of the existing offshore casinos to a designated area on land within four years, appointment of a gaming commissioner, banning of locals from 💯accessing casinos and issuing long term (10-15 years) casino licenses to the companies shifting offshore casinos to land.

However, till date, no further pro🦄gress seems to have been made ൲on the announcement made by Parrikar on the floor of the house.