What are the infrastructural improvements needed to boost tourists’ inflow to Goa?
We need to improve basic infrastructure. Infrastructure to clear, recycle and treat garbage and waste is the first priority. We need to keep our beaches and tourist spots clean and free of litter and garbage. The industry itself needs to be responsible and lead the way. The industry must find ways and means to protect their environment by collecting and disposing waste scientifically. At the same time there is need to discipline the domestic tourists who unlike the foreign tourist are the biggest cause of litter and garbage. Domestic tourists have no respect for our environment. They are largely responsible for dirtying our beaches and tourist spots. This is driving away the international tourists. Goa has natural beauty and it does not need anything else except cleanliness. It needs to get rid of garbage.
What are your views on the discipline of tourists on the beaches?
Goa’s attraction is its image as a blend between the east and the west. It’s image of a refreshing oasis of the West meeting the East. Gradually that image is disappearing and losing it lustre. We have laws that prohibit drinking in public. But domestic tourists drink in public flouting all our local laws in the presence of our police. CCTV’s should be installed on the beaches and all the tourists as well as the IRB who look the other way should be penalized with heavy fines.
What are the basic infrastructures needed to woo high end tourists to Goa?
High end tourism needs only basic infrastructure which provides for segregation, collection, disposal and recycling of waste. However, this requires participation by the hospitality industry, locals and education of the tourists. We need to also set up new attractions in the form of museums, entertainment centres, marinas, golf courses, high end low rise hotels including heritage hotels, farmland hotels, hinterland hotels, which preserve and display the Goan identity.
Define high end tourists. Is it their income level, or specific countries, etc, etc.
When we speak of high end tourists, we mean high end quality tourists, who know to behave themselves, respect our culture and environment and keep it clean. It is not related to their income levels, though clean and environmentally friendly tourism automatically raises the income levels. Sometimes the rich and so called high end tourists have no respect for the environment they travel to and tend to create the same problems that the low end tourist create. We do not want tourists who drink on the beaches, live on the road side in their buses.
How many tourists does the tourism industry expect to attract in the normal tourist season beginning in October?
The tourism industry expects a growth between 10 and 15% for the next year. It can be more if direct flights and charter movement to Goa increases. However, there is a great fear in the industry that on account of reduction of the hours for landing at the Dabolim airport, many airlines and charter flights may cancel their flights resulting in negative growth.
What are the plans to attract tourists this monsoon? Which areas of Goa will be focused on for monsoon tourism?
Monsoons normally attract the domestic tourists and the focus will continue to be in this area. On the international front, there are initiatives to attract tourists from the Middle East. The infrastructure and hotels existing at present are all in the coastal area and the focus during the monsoons will continue to be the coast, though the sea and the beach is out of bounds of the tourists during the monsoons on account of risk to life and safety from the rough seas.
