Latest news with #OTA
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First Post
9 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Are homestays becoming trouble-spots for Goa? Minister blames ‘people from outside'
Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte announced tighter enforcement on illegal tourist accommodations and updated the state's Homestay Policy to support rural women read more Multiple second residences and residential structures in Goa are being utilised for tourist stays by people from outside the state without informing the Goan authorities, state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said in the assembly on Monday. He also stated that the Goa government is regularly monitoring lodgings offered on online travel agency (OTA) platforms to ensure they are legally registered with authorities. His statement came when BJP MLA Michael Lobo raised the matter in the House, claiming that homestays functioning in residential communities are causing difficulty for locals by attracting disruptive tourists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Responding to the Zero Hour mention, Khaunte stated, 'Regular watch is kept on accommodations listed on OTAs. They are actively monitored.' He said, 'The government has ensured all inventory of hotel rooms, guesthouses and other stays linked with OTA platforms are registered with the tourism department.' 'Many second homes and residential buildings are being misused for tourist stays without informing the authorities. The people who come to these second homes and operate as tourist accommodations often do so without proper registration,' he added. 'The Goa government will work towards finding a sustainable solution that protects the interests of both residents and the tourism sector,' he assured the assembly. Later, addressing the reporters, Khaunte stated that the Goa government has updated its Homestay Policy to address critical difficulties confronting local people working in the hospitality business in the coastal state's rural regions. A direct grant of Rs 2 lakh will now be provided to eligible applicants to establish homestays, replacing the previous reimbursement-based model that posed financial challenges for many rural households, he said. 'The original policy required beneficiaries to invest first and claim the amount later, which was not practical for women in rural households,' he told reporters on the margins of the state assembly's ongoing monsoon session. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Based on their feedback, we have made the necessary changes to ensure the policy is inclusive, accessible and truly empowering,' says Khaunte. The updated legislation would apply to homestays with one to six lettable rooms within the owner's property, particularly in rural regions, according to the ministry. 'While the registration is permitted across Goa, incentives will be limited to non-coastal, non-urban zones to ensure the policy's rural focus is preserved,' added the official. Khaunte stated that the project is profoundly founded in women's empowerment, since homestays would be administered mostly by household women. 'This is not just about adding inventory to our tourism ecosystem, it's about creating livelihood opportunities, preserving cultural heritage, and giving rural women a leadership role in community-based tourism,' he said. The tourist department will launch the application procedure for taking advantage of this program once the current assembly session ends on August 8, he added. 100 homestays will be supported under the scheme in the initial phase, the minister said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Webjet fined $9m for misleading Aussie travellers after the ACCC took the online travel agency to Federal Court
A major Australian travel company has been fined $9m for misleading Aussies about the price of flights and booking confirmations after an investigation from the consumer watchdog. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in November took online travel agency (OTA) Webjet to Federal Court for misleading advertisements it ran between 2018 and 2023 that excluded compulsory fees. Webjet also admitted it misled 118 customers between 2019 and 2024 by providing flight bookings for travel plans it had not actually confirmed. The OTA then asked for additional payments upwards of $2120 for customers to complete the booking. Webjet has since handed back this money. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the investigation into Webjet began after a traveller complained about a ticket price advertised as 'from $18' ended costing three times as much after fees were added. 'We took this case because we considered that Webjet used misleading pricing by excluding or not adequately disclosing compulsory fees in its ads,' Ms Cass-Gottlieb said. 'Seeking to lure in customers with prices that don't tell the whole story is a serious breach of the Australian Consumer Law.' The OTA hit customers with a 'servicing fee' and a 'booking price guarantee' fee ranging between $34.90-$54.90 per booking. These additional fees were not disclosed in Webjet's social media posts and varied depending on where the traveller was heading. Some users had to scroll to the fine print near the bottom of the screen in their booking to see information about the fees. 'Retailers must ensure their advertised prices are accurate,' Ms Cass-Gottlieb said. "They should clearly disclose additional fees and charges." These fees made up 36 per cent of Webjet's total revenue from November 2018 to November 2023. The consumer watchdog noted that Webjet had co-operated with the ACCC throughout the investigation, admitted liability and agreed to make joint submissions to the Court about orders, including the penalty.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin reports to camp despite ongoing contract dispute
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Wide receiver Terry McLaurin reported to Washington Commanders training camp on Sunday morning following a four-day holdout, but the 2024 second-team All-Pro and the team have yet to agree on new contract terms. The Commanders removed McLaurin from the reserve/did not report list for camp and placed Washington's leading receiver on the active/physically unable to perform list due to an ankle injury from the previous season, according to head coach Dan Quinn. 'I'm really pumped that he is here,' Quinn said before Sunday's practice. The coach said he spoke directly with McLaurin on Saturday. 'He is such an awesome competitor. At his core, that's who he is.' McLaurin did not report on Tuesday along with his teammates and incurred a $50,000 daily fine for skipping the first four official days of camp. The seven-year veteran has one year remaining on a three-year, $68.2 million extension signed in 2022, but has been seeking a new deal. He set a career-high with 13 touchdown receptions and had 1,096 yards last season on 82 receptions. The PUP list designation forbids McLaurin from participating in on-field activities, but he can join teammates and coaches in meetings and now counts toward the 90-player roster limit. With fans in attendance for practice, McLaurin will work with the training staff on the side field during Sunday's practice, Quinn said. McLaurin participated in early portions of Washington's offseason program, but skipped the on-field portions of Organized Team Activities (OTA) and mandatory minicamp. Teammates have supported their absent teammate during camp. Quarterback Jayden Daniels and McLaurin fueled an offense that was central to Washington's surprising run to the NFC Championship game last season. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'Just business in the NFL,' said Daniels. 'We know Terry's working … at the end of the day, he's still one of our brothers.' AP NFL:
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PCMC identifies over 34k property owners with tax dues
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has identified over 34,000 property owners who have not paid their taxes for many years. The civic body has failed to collect property taxes from these residents, most of them living in affordable housing schemes and government-sponsored housing projects. Pune, India - July 20, 2022: Margosa Heights, a posh residential society of 600 flats from 11 buildings had to stay without power for almost 22 hours, mainly due to 'slow action' from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL Mohammed Wadi, Kondhwa, in Pune, India, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Photo by Shankar Narayan/HT PHOTO) (Shankar Narayan/HT Photo) According to the PCMC tax department, 34,022 defaulters have residences in projects like Prime Minister Awas Yojana, Gharkul Yojana, Slum Rehabilitation Authority and OTA scheme, amongst others. Pradeep Jambhale-Patil, additional municipal commissioner, PCMC, said, 'We have identified over 1 lakh properties, including 34,000 tax defaulters. While the tax recovery campaign has been successful, we will launch strict action against those who have dues pending for more than 5 and 10 years.' Officials said that 112,809 residential property owners in the city have outstanding dues amounting to ₹310 crore. For those who have not paid their taxes for over 5 to 10 years, the civic body plans to seize high-value household items such as cars, televisions, refrigerators, and other luxury goods. Avinash Shinde, assistant municipal commissioner (tax department), PCMC, said, 'PCMC has already collected ₹522 crore in the first quarter of the year—a record performance—and has set an ambitious revenue target of ₹1,300 crore for 2025-26.' The civic body has 18 divisional offices currently engaged in tax collection. Notices have been issued to defaulters along with their property bills. Officials have warned of seizure of movable assets and, in extreme cases, properties if dues are not paid. Pending tax Properties with over ₹50,000 dues: 28,518 Properties with over ₹1 lakh dues: 9,147 Commercial properties with dues exceeding ₹5 lakh: 875
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Master instructors pass out from OTA: NCC cadets set to become licensed drone pilots
Nagpur: After the deployment of drones in Operation Sindoor, even National Cadet Corps (NCC) members are set to become licensed pilots of the unmanned flying machines. The first batch of master drone instructors from across the country passed out from the NCC Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Kamptee on Friday. This included two candidates from Nagpur. The OTA is the training centre for Associate NCC Officers (ANOs), who are basically school teachers leading NCC units. The master trainers will now train cadets in their respective NCC directorates. Upon completion of the course, these trainers are authorised to operate remote pilot training organisations (RPTOs). "Those who are trained in NCC will receive remote pilot certificates (RPCs) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)," said a press release. This opens new opportunities for the cadets. NCC is the youth wing of the ministry of defence. The instructor course is designed to equip NCC cadets with hands-on experience in drone training, manufacturing, flying, and repairing the flying machines. The maiden batch of master drone instructors had candidates drawn from various directorates across the country, including Maharashtra, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Karnataka, and Goa, the release said. It is learnt that there are plans to also have a central drone training centre at Nagpur. This is likely to emerge as a unified facility where the cadets would be trained in handling drones. However, it may take some time as formalities like the finalisation of land are yet to be completed, said sources. The cadets trained here may get licences after being trained at the proposed centre. Once the entire plan is approved, it is expected to help the cadets get training at a well-equipped facility, said sources.
