EXTRAORDINARY

No. 2

Goa Legislature Secretariat

The following bill which was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goa on 31st August,

2026 is hereby published for general information in pursuance of Rule-138 of the Rules of Procedure and

Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.

________

The Goa Registration of Tourist Trade (Amendment) Bill, 2026

(Bill No. 59 of 2026)

BILL

further to amend the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Act 10 of 1982).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade

(Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once on such date as the Government may by notification in the Official

Gazette, appoint.

2. Substitution of Section 13A.— In the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Goa Act 10 of

1982) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”), for Section 13A, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“13A. Licensing of beach shacks.— (1) Upon expiry of the licences granted by the prescribed

authority for erection of beach shacks, the prescribed authority shall, through a public notice issued in

the local newspapers having vide circulation in the State of Goa, call applications for erection of beach

LA/LEGN/2026/1646

Suggestions are welcomed on e-mail: [email protected]

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RNI No. GOAENG/2002/6410

Panaji, 09th September, 2026 (Bhadra 18, 1948)

SERIES I No. 23

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

shacks, for three consecutive tourist seasons, on such beaches as specified by the Government in the

Beach Shack Policy, from persons who are not employed or engaged, directly or indirectly, in any

business, vocation or profession, such as tourist taxis, hotels, bars or restaurants, sale of handicrafts,

souvenirs, toddy tapping, fishing or any other form of business not so specified.

“(2) On receipt of application under sub-section (1) the prescribed authority shall scrutinize it and if

found in order, grant licence on such terms and conditions as may be specified in that behalf by charging

prescribed fees for one tourist season, which shall thereafter be renewed twice on payment of such

revised fees as prescribed, for the remaining two tourist seasons:

Provided that the Government may, upon being satisfied that there exists any reason which warrant

grant of extension of the licence which is about to expire, by an Order in writing, direct the prescribed

authority to extend such licence not exceeding for one tourist season.

(3) Where the number of eligible applicants are more than the number of beach shacks permitted on

any particular beach, the selection shall be decided by draw of lots on such date and at such time as the

prescribed authority may notify in this behalf.

(4) License shall be granted for putting up only one beach shack to a member of the family.

Explanation.— For the purpose of this sub-section, the word “family” shall include husband or wife,

as the case may be, dependent parents and unmarried children.

(5) The grant of a licence under this section shall not confer upon the licensee any right, title or

interest in or over the beach, Government land or any other public property and such license shall be

subject to cancellation, suspension or revocation in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the rules

made thereunder, the terms and conditions of the licence and the Beach Shack Policy as notified by the

Government from time to time.

(6) The Government shall formulate and notify a Beach Shack Policy applicable for three

consecutive tourist seasons for the purpose of regulation, allotment, erection and operation of beach

shacks on the identified beaches and for matters connected therewith, including the eligibility of

applicants, manner of allotment, number and location of beach shacks, fees, security deposit, terms and

conditions of the licence and such other matters as may be necessary for giving effect to the purposes of

this Section.

3. Insertion of a new Section 13C.— In the principal Act, after Section 13B, the following section shall

be inserted, namely:—

“13C. Registration of shacks in private property.— Any person intending to operate a temporary

shack in a private property within CRZ area as per CRZ Notification shall apply for registration to the

prescribed authority in such manner as prescribed and with such fees as notified by the Government

from time to time.”

4. Substitution of Section 22.— In the principal Act, for Section 22, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

“22. Penalty for default in registration.— (1) Any person carrying on the business of a dealer, hotel-

keeper, private shack operator or travel agent or as mentioned in sub-section (1) of Section 19A, without

proper registration under this Act or in violation of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made

thereunder, he shall be liable to pay penalty of such amount as may be imposed by the prescribed

authority which may extend to rupees One lakh only.

Explanation.— Any person who has made application for renewal of certificate before the date of its

expiry and if such application is pending disposal, such person shall not be considered as a defaulter for

the purposes of this section.

(2) Where the person on whom the penalty is imposed under sub-section (1) does not within 30 days

from the date of receipt of the order imposing such penalty, pay the amount, then such person shall be

liable to pay, by way of penal interest, a sum of,—

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(a) rupees five hundred only for each day for the first 30 days from the date of the expiry of the

period of 30 days as aforesaid; and,

(b) rupees one thousand only for each day thereafter.

(3) In case of failure on the part of a dealer or hotel-keeper or private shack operator or travel agent

to pay the penalty imposed under sub-section (1) and/or penal interest under sub-section (2), the same

shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue, and the prescribed authority shall proceed to seal the

business premises and order disconnection of water and electricity supply. The concerned Department

shall be bound to comply such order within a period of four days from the date of its receipt. In case the

seal affixed by the prescribed authority is tampered with or damaged, the dealer, hotel-keeper, private

shack operator or travel agent, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay additional fine of rupees ten

lakhs apart from further action under the provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 45

of 2023).

(4) Where any person erects beach shack and/or carries on activity therein, without obtaining a

licence as required under Section 13A or in violation of the terms and conditions specified in the licence

or the Beach Shack Policy, in addition to such action as may be provided under the Beach Shack

Policy,—

(i) he shall be liable to pay penalty of such amount as may be imposed by the prescribed

authority, which may extend to rupees twenty lakhs only;

(ii) the beach shack shall be liable for demolition and the material thereof confiscated, without

any prior notice, shall be entirely at his risk and cost”.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

The beach shacks in Goa are a major tourist attraction and play a vital role in the tourism economy of

the State. Currently, Section 13A of the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Goa Act 10 of 1982)

contains rigid statutory provisions regarding the eligibility, duration and selection process for issuance of

shack licenses, which restricts the flexibility required to adapt to changing dynamics, economic shifts and

environmental standards of successive tourism seasons. The said provision does not expressly provide for a

statutory framework enabling the Government to formulate and notify a comprehensive Shack Policy from

time to time, including determination of the period for which such licences may remain valid.

In order to streamline the regular administration of shack allotments and ensure rapid execution of

updates, the Government formulates comprehensive Beach Shack Policy from time to time. It is therefore

considered necessary to amend Section 13A of the said Act, so as to expressly provide for grant of a licence

for a beach shack for tourist seasons as notified by the Government vide Shack Policy, subject to

compliance with the Act, the rules made thereunder and the Shack Policy notified by the Government from

time to time.

The proposed Bill seeks to provide statutory support to the Beach Shack Policy while ensuring that the

allotment does not create any right, title or interest in the beach or Government land. The Bill also provides

mandate for registration of temporary shacks in private property within CRZ area, subject to approvals

from Goa Coastal Management Authority, concerned Village Panchayat/Municipality etc., alongwith

revision of penalties for default in registration of any tourist trade activity.

The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects.

FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

No Financial implications are involved in this Bill.

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Clause 1(2) of the Bill empowers the State Government to issue a notification in the Official Gazette

for bringing the Act into force.

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Clause 2 of the Bill empowers the Government to frame rules for specifying the fees and the revised

fees for renewal of license.

Clause 2 of the Bill empowers the Government to formulate and notify Beach Shack Policy.

Clause 3 of the Bill empowers the Government to frame rules for specifying the manner for

registration to the prescribed authority and fees thereto.

These delegations are of normal character.

Porvorim-Goa.

31^st August, 2026.

ROHAN KHAUNTE

Minister for Tourism

Assembly Hall,

Porvorim, Goa.

31^st August, 2026.

NAMRATA ULMAN

Secretary to the

Legislative Assembly of Goa.

ANNEXURE

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Extract of Section 13A of The Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Act No. 10 of 1982)

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13A. Licensing of beach shacks.— (1) Before commencement of the tourist season, the prescribed

authority shall, through a public notice issued in the local newspapers, call for applications for installation

of beach shacks, on such beaches as may be notified by the Government, from persons who are not

employed or engaged, directly or indirectly, in any business, vocation or profession, such as tourist taxis,

hotels, bars or restaurants, sale of handicrafts, souvenirs, toddy tapping, fishing or any other form of

business not so specified.

(2) On receipt of such applications, the prescribed authority shall scrutinize the applications, and if

found in order, grant necessary license by charging prescribed fees and on such terms and conditions as

maybe specified in this behalf.

(3) Where the number of eligible applicants are more than the number of beach shacks permitted on

any particular beach, the selection shall be decided by draw of lots on such date and at such time as the

prescribed authority may notify in this behalf.

(4) License shall be granted for putting up only one beach shack to a member of the family.

(5) Any person intending to erect a beach shack in private property shall, before he erects such shack,

apply for registration to the prescribed authority in the prescribed manner.

Explanation.— For the purpose of this section,―family shall include husband or wife, as the case may

be, dependent parents and unmarried children, provided they figure in the same ration card as the applicant.

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Extract of Section 22 of The Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Act No. 10 of 1982)

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22. Penalty for default in registration.— (1) Any person carrying on the business of a dealer, hotel-

keeper or travel agent or as mentioned in sub-section (i) of Section 19A, without proper registration under

this Act or in violation of any of the provisions of this Act or the Rules made thereunder shall be

punishable by the prescribed authority with fine which may extend to Rs. 1,00,000/-.

Explanation.— A person who has made an application for renewal of certificate before the date of its

expiry and if the same is pending disposal then he shall not be a defaulter for the purposes of this section.

(2) Where the person on whom the penalty of fine is imposed under sub-section (1) does not within 30

days from the date of the order imposing such penalty, pay the fine imposed, then such person shall be

liable to pay, by way of penal interest, a sum of:—

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(a) Rs. 100/- for each day for the first 30 days from the date of the expiry of the period of 30 days as

aforesaid; and,

(b) Rs. 200/- for each day thereafter for a period of 15 days.

(3) “In case of failure on the part of a dealer, a hotel-keeper or travel agent to pay the fine imposed

under sub-section (1) and/or penal interest under sub-section (2), the same shall be recovered as an arrears

of land revenue, and the business shall be liable to be closed and the prescribed authority shall proceed to

seal the business premises and order disconnection of water and electric connection. The concerned

Department shall be bound to comply such order within a period of four days from the date of its receipt.

In case the seal affixed by the prescribed authority is tampered with or damaged, the dealer, hotel-keeper or

travel agent, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay additional fine of rupees ten lakhs apart from further

action under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Central Act 45 of 1860).”

(4) Any person erecting beach shack and/or carrying on activity therein without obtaining a license as

required under Section 13A of this Act, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs. 10,000/-, the

beach shack shall be liable for demolition and the material thereof confiscated, without any prior notice,

entirely at his risk and cost.

(5) Any person erecting beach shack and/or carrying on activities therein without proper registration as

required under Section 13A (5), shall be punishable with fine of Rs. 1,000/- which may extend to Rs.

5,000/-.]

———♦♦♦———

Department of Law

Legal Affairs Division

Notification

The Goa Registration of Tourist Trade (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Goa Act 18 of 2026), which has been

passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa on 02/09/2026 and assented to by the Governor of Goa on

08/09/2026, is hereby published for the general information of the public.

Dnyaneshwar Raut Dessai, Joint Secretary (Law).

Porvorim.

---------

The Goa Registration of Tourist Trade (Amendment) Act, 2026

(Goa Act 18 of 2026)

[08-09-2026]

ACT

further to amend the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Act 10 of 1982).

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade

(Amendment) Act, 2026.

(2) It shall come into force at once on such date as the Government may by notification in the Official

Gazette, appoint.

2. Substitution of Section 13A.— In the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 (Goa Act 10 of

1982) (hereinafter referred to as the “principal Act”), for Section 13A, the following section shall be

substituted, namely:—

7/18/2026-LA/169

Date : 09-Sep-2026

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“13A. Licensing of beach shacks.— (1) Upon expiry of the licences granted by the prescribed

authority for erection of beach shacks, the prescribed authority shall, through a public notice issued in

the local newspapers having vide circulation in the State of Goa, call applications for erection of beach

shacks, for three consecutive tourist seasons, on such beaches as specified by the Government in the

Beach Shack Policy, from persons who are not employed or engaged, directly or indirectly, in any

business, vocation or profession, such as tourist taxis, hotels, bars or restaurants, sale of handicrafts,

souvenirs, toddy tapping, fishing or any other form of business not so specified.

(2) On receipt of application under sub-section (1) the prescribed authority shall scrutinize it and if