When one hears the name “Goa”, the first image that conjures up
in one’s mind is that of beaches, parties, chilled out vibes and fun. Beyond
the beach trips, nightlife is considered to be one of the major contributors to
Goa’s economy and it goes hand-in-hand with the state’s tourism industry. These
night clubs, bars and pubs, music festivals and even night markets attract a
significant number of tourists all year round.
The number of tourists vacationing from
out of state and abroad have almost doubled in the past year since the
lockdowns and ‘jail time’ were put off. Subsequently, the pressure that had
built up during the lockdowns seems to have exploded causing a rush in Goa’s
hottest tourist party spots.
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With the rising number of tourists entering our state, tourist
spots seem to be getting overcrowded and Goans are having a hard time enjoying
themselves when they’re packed like sardines in a club. Even though there are
new places opening up almost every other week and parties happening almost
every day, locals complain that their ‘break time’ is bombarded with an
overwhelming change in their ‘vibe due to out of state demands and trends. A
student from Don Bosco College, Panjim, Menezes said his experiences so far
were not as bad but went on to explain how a tiny crowded room could turn into
a nightmare.
“Wherever I have partied in the North, the conditions weren’t
that bad but as the crowd and the artists bust out their party moves, which can
really be exhausting, and after dancing in that heat some people want to find
for some cool air to calm their body down but certain places have just one big
fan,” he said.
He said that the party organisers must take into account these
minor things which if remain neglected,can ultimately turn out to contribute to
a bigger issue.
Blaine Machado, a student, said that most clubs are overflowing
with crowd on the weekends.
“Along the coastal regions of Goa, nightlife seems to only stop
when the sun rises. Tourists are often observed to prefer clubs at full
capacity because they want to be at the trendy place or it indicates a popular
spot. We need some serious steps in controlling the crowd,” he said. Aryan
Bhobe, student at Don Bosco College, Panjim agreed with the fact that shared
his grief about the loss of Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK).
“KK’s death has certainly sent shockwaves across India. It was
not long before when his songs were always in my playlist which gave us
listeners mental peace. Overcrowding at party venues in Goa is a common sight
for the locals like me. These jampacked clubs and venues can cause a lot of
problems as well as finish the vibes of a concert.”
Many students from all over Goa testified that all fun and games
end with an overcrowded party when a sweaty dancer bumps into you and or
someone spills your drink or you’re uncomfortable if someone is a little too
close for comfort. Joshua Pereira, student of St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa
explained being in a big crowd although is enjoyable, but can become awkward
and uncomfortable. He said, “If you’re familiar with most of the people then
maybe it would be fun, otherwise it’s just annoying bumping into random
strangers every few seconds.” Further specifying, “I don’t think it’s currently
a big problem in Goa, unless there are people who are awkward in large crowds
or people who take advantage of others in crowded parties.”
There were suggestions galore on how to prevent situations like
the recent KK incident. Azhan Shaikh, a mass communication student at Don Bosco
College, Panjim said, “Event organisers must ensure that venues don’t get
overcrowded by restricting entry. They should also have emergency services
present at least near the event. Avoid having big artistes performing in indoor
arenas to avoid such a mishap in the future.”
Agreeing with Shaikh, Bhobe said, “Shifting to a bigger venue or
reducing the number of people attending the concert should be a must to tackle
this issue,” he said
Overall,
the State thrives at night, maybe even more than it should and that’s not
necessarily a bad thing. But if the crowd is not managed and the infrastructure
at the venues is not improved, then it may result in an untoward incident,
which can affect the State’s reputation and consequently the State’s economy,
which is heavily dependent on tourists.
