- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Among those praised the move was local fisherman Francis Fernandes, whose boat was used by British PM Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty during her visit to Goa earlier this year.
By: Shubham Ghosh
FISHERFOLK and shack-owners’ body in the western coastal Indian state of Goa, known to be one the country’s prime tourist destinations, have welcomed the state government’s decision to make it compulsory for beach shacks to serve ‘fish curry-rice’, saying this food reflects the “spirit of Goa”.
Visitors need to be made aware of the traditional Goan cuisine, they said, adding that this will also help in promoting food tourism in the coastal state.
Rohan Khaunte, the state’s tourism minister, on Sunday (8) said shacks on beaches will now have to mandatorily serve ‘fish curry-rice’, along with other Indian and international cuisines.
“We have to project our rich cuisine to tourists,” he said.
The compulsory inclusion of the coconut-based preparation, savoured for its tangy and spicy taste, in the menu is part of the state’s new Shack Policy that aims to promote Goan cuisine, Khaunte said.
Till now, shacks along the shoreline offered North Indian food, but Goan dishes were not available at these places, he said.
The government has now made it compulsory for shacks to “display and serve” the Goan food, including fish curry-rice, the minister added.
“Fish curry-rice is the spirit of Goa which we need to introduce to all visitors arriving in the state,” fisherman Francis Fernandes from South Goa, locally known as Pele, told PTI.
He said the state’s traditional food has been made part of the tourism industry through the Shack Policy, which is a welcome step.
“Tourists should know about the traditional Goan cuisine,” said Pele, who shot to fame when British prime minister Rishi Sunak’s wife Akshata Murthy earlier this year took a ride in a boat owned by him at the Benaulim beach in South Goa.
Shack Owners’ Welfare Society president Cruz Cardoso said they are willing to abide by the rule.
“We are happy that the Goan cuisine, and specially fish curry-rice, will be served at the shacks. This will help us introduce food tourism to the visitors,” he said.
All the shack owners should abide by the government’s rule, said Pele, who in November last year showed traditional fishing techniques to Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and later served him cooked fish at his place.
(With PTI inputs)
