Panaji: Tourism department has decided to demarcate zones in rivers and water bodies for kayaks, with the designated points likely to be notified within a week.“For many years, kayaking has been happening in those particular places, and we have encouraged them,” said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte. “If everything goes right, in the next seven to eight days, for your kayaking, everything will be sorted, demarcated, and given to the people to operate.”Khaunte said the department opposes operating motorboats and jet skis in rivers in the hinterland.In July, the high court ordered the suspension of inland water sports after govt admitted it had not notified or demarcated mandatory operational zones. Interestingly, the Captain of Ports blamed the tourism department for not demarcating the designated watersports zones in inland waterways.“The Captain of Ports, without talking to the tourism director, submitted an affidavit (to the court) which we ourselves did not know about,” said the tourism minister.Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Jack Sukhija had asked the tourism department to allow kayak operations to resume. Sukhija also asked govt to expedite the establishment of the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Bureau, which would serve as a single window to facilitate conferences, weddings and other big-ticket events.The minister said that tourism director Kedar Naik is in the final stage of completing the formalities for the MICE bureau.“Members of the industry will also be part of their particular bureau, which will be like the tourism board. And we want this to be completed as early as possible,” he said.Khaunte also said the deadline for applications and renewals of tourism properties has been extended till Oct 31. He said A- and B-category hotels, which are four-star and five-star hotels, will be considered for a five-year registration period, subject to yearly compliance. He said the renewal will be processed within 10 days, after which it will be deemed approved.