The Opposition, led by independent MLA Vijay Sardesai, pointed out that former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured during monsoon session of the House that pre-audit of such expenses would be done.
"The assurance has not been adhered to and tourism minister Dilip Parulekar has been on a spending spree which is not fetching any results in increasing visitors to the state," Sardesai alleged.
Referring to a reply tabled in the House, Sardesai said the tourism ministry has spent Rs 22 crore on international events and Rs 20 crore on domestic tours since 2012 till date.
Responding to the allegation, Parulekar said that such visits are required to increase tourism footfalls. Without such participation, the state cannot be marketed, he said.
Also Read
However, the minister admitted that the Ukraine-Russia crisis has resulted in decreased tourist arrivals from the two countries.
"These roadshows/ exhibitions proved to be tremendously successful and helped to showcase and promote Goa as a safe tourist destination of repute in the sphere of culture, leisure, weddings, adventure, music tourism, MICE,watersports, hinterland, etc, enabling sustained increase in tourist inflow.
"...Several measures undertaken for safety and security of tourists and other facilities existing in the state were communicated to foreign tourists and tour operators," he said.
However, Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo and other Opposition members were not convinced with the reply and kept arguing over the issue.
Sardesai alleged that the expenditure was a "scam" and demanded that the assurance of pre-audit should be implemented.