Much is said about the shortfall of domestic and international tourists in Goa this season following a dismal 2019. The demise of Thomas Cook and Jet Airways is cited as some cause, but any determined traveller can easily find capacity on other airlines. As regular visitors to Goa, my wife and I have firsthand experience of certain reasons why visitors are staying away. We report on these back home as do other visitors so these facts are well known. Goa is fond of promoting its pristine golden sandy beaches which do look good in photos. However, what you don’t see are the mounds of dog mess on the beaches, left by the packs of feral canines. This is simply covered up by the beach cleaners. Land behind the beach shacks and on the dunes is covered with non-biodegradable garbage such as plastic or foil material. This waste can be seen along the roadside or in fields. Burning and smouldering waste pollutes the air. The packs of stray dogs are a menace on the beaches and elsewhere. Officials seem to lack the will or inclination to deal with such perennial problems.
Menacing stray dogs, garbage
