Government may ink MoUs for next DefExpo in Goa to curb overpricing

PANAJI: Taking note of overpricing of stay and other commodities during recently concluded Defence Expo, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that his ministry may ink MoU with various stakeholders to curb it, if the mega event is held in again Goa next year.

"I have come across several instances wherein the hotels were overcharging during the Defence Expo. If this event is held in Goa next year too, we will sign MoU with the stakeholders to ensure that the pricing is controlled," Parrikar told reporters here last evening.

The Defence Expo 2016 was held at Betul-Naqueri village in South Goa from March 28-31 this year.

Parrikar said the event was very successful that resulted in income generation for Goa Tourism and other stakeholders of the state.

"But tourists as well as locals complaint about overpricing of food and accommodation. We need to control this," he said.

Parrikar said the tourist arrivals in Goa will cross six million mark before 2017 when the tenure of current the BJP-led government culminates.