Aug 17 – Tour operators at the Dudhsagar waterfalls today protested against the additional fees levied by Goa Tourism Development Corporation(GTDC) and Goa Forest Development Corporation(GFDC) since yesterday on tourists visiting the iconic cascades. Due to the add on fees, per tourist charges to be paid by the operators has increased from Rs 327 to Rs 527, informed the guides adding that it will affect the tourist footfall. They also warned of stopping their services if the additional fees were not rolled back. As per the operators, according to the new fee structure, the nature guide charges per passenger are Rs 200, Rs 100 is forest entry fee, Rs 177 is GTDC fee and Rs 50 is GFDC fee- together amounting to Rs 527. As per the authorities, the fee hike has been introduced to curb illegalities and as the fees are to be eventually collected from the tourists it should to affect the guides and the tour operators.
