Goa MLA Clarifies ‘Idli-Sambar Behind Fall In Tourists’ Remark Amid Shack Row: ‘Showcase Goan Cuisine…’

Last Updated:February 28, 2025, 18:02 IST

The BJP MLA said that the beach shacks are given to traditional Goan inhabitants and are not meant to be subleased or rented to non-Goans to set up a business venture.

Lobo sparked a debate over the drop in foreign tourist arrivals in the state claiming that the presence of idli-sambar and vada pav in beach shacks is a factor in the decline. (Representative Image)

Goa BJP legislator Michael Lobo on Friday clarified his stance on beach-shack policy in the state saying that he never asked people to not to eat Idli-Sambar in Goa but urged that the beach shacks should showcase Goan cuisine and seafood.

The BJP MLA said that the beach shacks are given to traditional Goan inhabitants and are not meant to be subleased or rented to non-Goans to set up a business venture.

“I never said that people should not eat Idli Sambar in Goa… The beach shacks that lie on the beaches of Goa are given to traditional Goan inhabitants… The beach shacks are about showcasing Goan cuisine and seafood that can be sold… The beach shacks are not allowed to be subleased or rented to non-Goans to set up a business venture. They can set it up on the other side of the road or above the beach,” he told news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Calangute, Goa | On the beach-shack policy in Goa, BJP MLA Michael Lobo says, “I never said that people should not eat Idli Sambhar in Goa… The beach shacks that lie on the beaches of Goa are given to traditional Goan inhabitants… The beach shacks are about… pic.twitter.com/iT0Zd9QIu9— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2025

On Thursday, Lobo sparked a debate over the drop in foreign tourist arrivals in the state claiming that the presence of idli-sambar and vada pav in beach shacks is a factor in the decline.

Addressing a press conference at Calangute in North Goa, Lobo said the government alone cannot be blamed if fewer foreigners visit the coastal state as all stakeholders are equally responsible.

“Some people from Bengaluru are serving ‘vada pav’ in the shacks, some are selling idli-sambar. (That’s why) International tourism has been declining in the state for the past two years,” he said.

The legislator, however, didn’t elaborate on how the popular dish is affecting tourism in the coastal state.

“There is a hue and cry because of the drop in tourist numbers. In the coastal belt, be it North or South, there has been a sharp fall in the arrival of foreign visitors. A lot of factors are responsible for this,” Lobo said.

Lobo said some foreigners visit Goa every year, but younger tourists from abroad are going away from the state. He rued that Goans have rented their beach shacks to businessmen from other places.

Meanwhile, the Goa tourism department has issued show-cause notices to 99 beach shacks for policy violations. A surprise inspection found 80 shacks in North Goa and 19 in South Goa breaching the Goa Shack Policy, with several instances of subletting. “The inspection revealed multiple violations of the Goa Shack Policy. As a result, show-cause notices have been issued to the violators,” a department spokesperson said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Location :

Panaji (Panjim, India, India

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