Tourism: Raising the bar
Wendell Rodricks
This refers to the letter Promote tourism in Goa (Herald, January 3, 2013) regarding Indian visas and UK visas. The letter is riddled with errors. I wonder if this email is truly from a UK citizen or a Goan beach lord/thug who wants more beach beds for his own pocket and beach shack. Any seasoned traveler is aware that the visa rates in countries are the same. An Indian pays the same amount for a UK visa as the UK citizen pays for an Indian visa. In fact the Indian ends up paying more as the UK insurance is mandatory.
Now, consider the earning capacity of the Indian vis-a-vis that of a UK citizen. It is much lower and hence the UK visa cost for an Indian is disproportionately high compared to that for a UK citizen. Let us not even begin to talk about Indian senior citizens who suffer a major bill at any visa counter. And once they get there, the cost of a tomato would get them two kilos of tomatoes here. So this comparison between the UK and India as far of cost of living is ludicrous… yet accepted graciously and expensively.
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I think it is rather insolent for any tourist or foreign resident to question any country’s immigration rules or beach policies. Would these people do the same in Saudi Arabia or Libya? Do we question UK rules? In Europe, apart from a few beaches like Cannes, Europeans bring their own towels and umbrellas to the beach. So is there also a Goan beach-bed supplier lurking behind this scathing email?
Goa is looking at long-term, quality tourists. And we are on the right track. Please do not talk down to us about our tourism since we respect the rules in your country. If your government made a rule about beach beds, we would meekly comply. Please respect our laws and do not imagine that this is some neo-colonialism at play here.
The beaches of Goa are for Goans as well. We can share them with the world… on our terms. And sunbathing is not part of our agenda! As far as “not coming back next year”, there is a world of resorts… cheaper, higher, better or worse to choose from. Please avail of the other world’s beaches and don’t use this ‘threatening’ tone with us! We want to raise the bar of foreign tourists and move Goa away from a cheap destination tag. To this end, many stylish and justifiably expensive, but still reasonable, boutique hotels have opened in the last decade.
While we appreciate all suggestions, you will agree that harsh, unjustified criticism with false facts is another, rather undiplomatic matter. I have many British friends in Goa and overseas and they would never comment in this manner. While every tourist worldwide has a right to make suggestions to another foreign country, let us engage in a civil dialogue that is best for both locals and tourists. Hope foreigners enjoy the best that Goa has to offer; like we enjoy the beautiful people and country that the United Kingdom is.
