Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jan 20: In the wake of safety violations reported at several nightclubs, the state tourism department has strengthened its documentation process for the registration and renewal of hotels, homestays, shacks and watersports operators.
As per a notification issued by Tourism Director Kedar Naik on Monday, it is now mandatory for guesthouses and homestays to obtain a valid no objection certificate (NOC) from the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services. Earlier, fire NOCs were generally required only for starred hotels and resorts, but the revised rules extend the requirement to small homestays, guesthouses and even spice plantations offering tourism services.
The notification outlines new norms aimed at streamlining mandatory documentation for various tourism-related activities, which the department said is part of the government’s broader effort to balance safety compliance with ease of doing business.
In August 2022, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had decided to reduce the number of documents required for registration and renewal of tourism establishments, and fire NOCs were removed from the list at the time. However, the latest move reverses that decision in view of recent safety concerns.
Under the revised guidelines, hotels will now be required to submit seven documents for new registration, compared to three earlier. Homestays will have to submit three documents for fresh registration and a fire NOC for renewal.
The department has also made it mandatory for residential units, apartments or villas being rented out to tourists to submit a no objection certificate from the housing society or consent from more than 50 per cent of residents before being approved for short-term stays.
“All stakeholders involved in tourism activities are hereby directed to submit the required documents, wherever applicable, and ensure full compliance with prescribed safety norms prior to applying for registration or renewal,” Naik said.
While describing the changes as an effort to simplify administrative procedures, the department acknowledged that the number of mandatory documents has increased across several categories.
Travel agents will now also be required to submit a valid fire NOC while registering or renewing their licences. Watersports operators must possess third-party insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh per person based on the vessel’s passenger capacity.
In addition, the tourism department clarified that only tourist guides holding a 15-year residence certificate issued by the mamlatdar will be eligible for registration.
The revised norms are expected to bring stricter safety oversight across the tourism sector while ensuring accountability among service providers.