The sector is in a mess with never-ending issues plaguing the industry. From illegal structures on the beaches to illegal hawkers, from deaths due to drugs to brutal assaults at nightclub, from dog menace on the beaches to ear-shattering loud music late into the wee hours… the list goes on.
The tourism industry has turned into a spoiled brat of the Goa government and despite several warnings from various quarters of the society, the departments concerned display lethargy in acting against the defaulters and those involved in criminal activities.
Despite a blanket ban on consumption of alcohol on the beaches, hawking, and setting a limit on the number of beds and dining furniture to be installed on the beachfront, the illegalities continue unabated. Touts continue to fleece tourists in the guise of massage and ‘happy ending’ sessions, and rowdy tourists continue to display their unruly behaviour by driving their vehicles on the beachfront.
The most upsetting of all is that the eco-sensitive turtle nesting sites too have become an unsafe zone for the Olive Ridley turtles who have been making the Goan seashores their private, secluded and safe space for progenation. Due to human interference, that is the tourists, turtles have been forced to return to the waters without laying eggs.
The North Goa’s coastal belt famous for its beaches globally has turned into a messy and overcrowded landscape due to illegal hawking, excessive number of beds and dining furniture by the shacks. The shacks have been permitted to install a maximum of 10 beds, but the beds are laid out right up to the water line in some cases, leaving hardly any walking space on the beachfront.
Each time a raid is conducted, within hours the furniture is returned to the shack owners with the minimum fine imposed. The shack owners do not mind paying the amount as they recover the money from the tourists.
It is a known fact that in a space that can be patrolled by lifeguards easily and lives saved during distress calls, no illegal activity can be carried out without the connivance of the police force. Hawkers, beggars and illegal furniture land up on the beachfront as those who are entrusted with the responsibility to act against the illegalities turn a blind eye.
Recently, four foreigners and an Indian were arrested at the Arambol beach for carrying out illegal business on the beachfront. However, in no time the hawkers were back to business as usual. The ones arrested were released after paying meagre fines.
The tourism department has been claiming that the Tourism Policy 2022 was envisaged to strengthen the department to take care of such illegalities. However, one fails to understand what stops the government agencies, including the police, from coming down with an iron fist against the illegal activities that keep mushrooming every single day on beaches across the State.
In December 2020, the Goa Government had approved the formation of a special police force solely dedicated to beach patrolling and the IRB would hand over the task to the special force. The ground reality speaks volumes of what has not been executed and the consequent results.
With four months of the beach tourism season still remaining, the government by taking emergency steps would not just do the tourists and locals a favour but will also save the State from global embarrassment as Goa will be playing host to the G20 Summit meetings.