SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
The government is trying its best to attract high spending tourists, but succeeds in getting only low-end spenders. The exploitation of Goa’s pristiane nature and its brand as a favourite destination to maximise revenue collection has only made matters worse. The tourism industry contributes about 17% towards the State GDP and benefits an influential section of the population. The full focus of attracting tourists has seemingly been on gambling, fun and party time events. Drugs and sex have become an integral part of that trade.
Goa has failed to promote quality tourism sustainable in the tiny State. With barely any foreign charter tourists coming from Russia and Ukraine, two of the biggest source markets for Goa, many locals in the Calangute-Candolim beach-belt who had been allotted shacks in November last year had decided not to pay the licence fee and set up their shacks, while many others had decided not to open their shacks even after paying the licence fee. A few had not opened for business even after erecting their shacks. With hardly any foreign tourists, who have always been the main patrons, beach shacks which initially started closed down for the season in March.
Tourism stakeholders have lamented that foreign tourists are seeking other destinations like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey and Vietnam instead of Goa. Issues like visa-on-arrival, cheap airport landing charges and better tourism infrastructure are the reasons why those foreign tourists are deciding against travelling to Goa.
While the number oaf foreign tourists has dipped compared to previous years, most tourism stakeholders admit that the influx of domestic tourists has helped salvage the season. There are some concerns that even Indian tourists are choosing other destinations in the country and abroad instead of Goa.
The commissioning of Mopa airport in the North has had a huge impact in South Goa, including domestic tourists, as flights now land there instead of the South Goa-based Dabolim airport.
More than outside, it is the inside forces that are affecting the tourism. Drugs, law and order issues and the issues surrounding the taxi operations need to be resolved.
High spending tourists have been a demand from the stakeholders since the past couple of years. Although, low spending visitors contribute minimum revenue to the State, they generate heaps of garbage and litter in open. Goa as we see today is more crowded with budgeted tourists, amidst the argument over absence of basic infrastructure at several tourist spots and improper garbage disposal at public places.
In addition, Goa is experiencing a surge of crimes, which is bound to have negative ripple effect on tourism. The deterioration of the State’s law and order scenario literally casts a dark cloud on the policing system. No fear of law has translated into rapes of tourists, murders, sexual assaults on minors, robberies, beggars menace and, to top it all, drunken driving. A visit to the coastal belt will showcase how, with no policing, illegal hawkers, massagers, drug peddlers, etc, continue to fearlessly roam the beaches and harass tourists.
While yet another tourism season is nearing an end, the government and the stakeholders need to focus on how to revive the last standing traditional industry of Goa.
