Tourism Minister Manohar ‘Babu' Ajgaonkar has said that electronic dance music festivals (EDMs) like Sunburn and Supersonic help the state in attracting quality tourists. He further added that such events also help the exchequer, hoteliers and locals in generating revenue.
PANAJI
Ajgaonkar was responding to a question tabled by Quepem MLA Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar, during the ongoing monsoon session of the assembly.
Interestingly, neither Sunburn nor Supersonic happened in Goa in 2016. Earlier, these events had garnered controversy as their organisers owe money to the state government.
Sunburn happened in Goa in all the years between 2012-13 and 2015-16. On the other hand, Supersonic took place in the state in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Replying to the question, Ajgaonkar said, "The EDM festivals of high magnitude like that of Supersonic and Sunburn are widely publicized around the globe and telecasted live in various parts of the world. This publicity aids the state of Goa in attracting new and quality tourists."
He later added, "Such festivals are one of the factors for increase in the arrival of tourists." Ajgaonkar also informed the house that the state government has earned Rs 20.5 crore in the last five years from EDMs like Sunburn and Supersonic.
The break-up of Rs 20.5 crore earned from EDMs is as follows: Commercial Taxes (Rs 9.5 crore), Tourism Department (Rs 7.6 crore), Police Department (Rs 2.2 crore), Excise Department (Rs 1 crore), Directorate of Panchayats (Rs 9 lakh) and GCZMA (Rs 9.4 lakh).
Ajgaonkar also said that the organisers of Sunburn and Supersonic haven't paid all their dues to the state government. Based on the information provided by him, Sunburn organisers owe the government Rs 3.9 crore (Rs 1.8 crore to Police Department and Rs 2.2 crore to Commercial Taxes) and Supersonic Organisers owe the state government Rs 2.9 crore (Rs 48.5 lakh to Police Department and Rs 2.4 crore to Commercial Taxes).
