25 Apr 2024  |   05:28am IST

Tragedy of [Goa’s] Commons

The influx of tourists, driven by social media's allure more recently in the last decade, has spawned an environment of toxicity where Instagram-worthy moments take precedence over local sensibilities. Tourists, fuelled by a relentless pursuit of the perfect snapshot, often disregard basic etiquette and respect

Rohit Sinha

Goa, with its breath-taking beaches and vibrant culture, has long been a magnet for tourists seeking a slice of paradise. However, beneath the surface of this idyllic coastal state, structural issues are eroding the fabric of the local community. From the toxicity of Instagram culture to the challenges posed by overcrowding and the unequal distribution of economic gains, Goa is grappling with the issue of unchecked tourism. To preserve the essence of this beautiful state and not cast shadows on this once tranquil paradise, urgent attention and thoughtful solutions are imperative.

The influx of tourists, driven by social media's allure more recently in the last decade, has spawned an environment of toxicity where Instagram-worthy moments take precedence over local sensibilities. Tourists, fuelled by a relentless pursuit of the perfect snapshot, often disregard basic etiquette and respect, leaving a trail of disruption and discomfort in their wake. In a state where a sense of space is a cherished commodity, the escalating transient population has transformed what was once a welcoming environment for community interaction into a source of contention as individuals vie for their 'rightful' place, whether resident or tourist.

This overcrowding is not just a metaphorical squeeze; it's palpable on Goa's roads. The lack of adequate infrastructure and planning to accommodate the growing number of visitors has resulted in frustration among residents who feel their space is being encroached upon. These tensions are evident in the comments on social media, where tourists' vehicles and their occupants are often vilified for all the ills in Goa. Such micro aggressions are permeating the Goan way of life, and everybody, residents and visitors alike, are losing.

It is tempting to lay blame solely on overtourism for Goa’s challenges. It has become our unofficial state pastime. Admittedly, there is some truth to that perspective, but we also seem to have a design problem that is going understudied. Data shared by the Goa’s Tourism Minister in the latest Assembly session (Feb’24) show that annual domestic tourist arrivals marginally surpassed pre-covid levels for the first time in 2023 (72L in 2023, 71L in 2019) - so if the number of tourists are more or less back to pre-covid levels, why does this ‘wave’ of tourism feel different? 

There could be multiple explanations for this; tourists’ profile has changed, or consumption and footprint have significantly increased per tourist, or even under measurement of actual tourists coming in. Perhaps all this is getting magnified by ‘entertainment’ as the primary vector for Goa’s economic boom. 

If this is true, then the 'Miami-fication' of Goa, with its increasing investment in 'walled gardens' rather than inclusive, distributed spaces for public interaction and recreation, will hurt Goa in the long run. Think, more private beach clubs and less investment in public squares, boulevards, parks, beaches and what that does for community interaction. Without communal spaces that foster empathy and interaction, the divide between residents and tourists widens, exacerbating the sense of alienation and resentment.

This is not an easy problem to fix, nor is there a short-term solution. The sooner we recognise this as a constantly evolving and dynamic problem to solve, the better we will get at addressing it. 

The prevailing narrative touts economic growth as the panacea for all woes, painting a rosy picture for all, but the reality is that the commons have suffered and the benefits are unevenly distributed. This is a values alignment problem in disguise. For a shared future we all desire, fostering empathy must go hand in hand with Goa’s economic growth, influencing both government policy and individual actions in service of the commons. Turning a blind eye to emerging fissures in Goan society should no longer be a viable policy choice.

One approach involves acknowledging the problem and allowing its inefficiencies to surface organically, forcing stakeholders to address them collectively. Today, this has become the prevailing organizing principle to manage these frictions by residents. Goans are responding by actively organizing themselves to protect the commons, from noise pollution to land use changes. Community and civic activism are thriving in Goa, and we must heed their calls. This activism is Goa’s asset, not a force to be seen as against development. However as these frictions accumulate without appropriate government response and frankly, co-engagement, there is a risk of civic mindedness turning into apathy and may lead to irreparable damage to Goa’s social fabric. Everybody loses.

For Goa to tackle the problems of tomorrow, the government and civil society must engage in thoughtful dialogue and collective reflection to foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between tourism, the local community, and the environment. For this to work, citizens will have to do more than just react, and for the government to offer token gestures. 

Oftentimes we end up focusing solely on capacity problems - citizens inconvenienced by congestion and the government responding by widening roads. Whereas the true opportunity is in jointly surfacing and solving for design challenges that can make Goa an example of citizen-led development that harmoniously balances the economic growth (of which tourism is a big engine) and the preservation of the commons (natural heritage, community cooperation). The question remains: whether Goa's current economic policies reflect this balanced vision for the future. Only time will tell.

The shared sense of responsibility often emerges in spaces where people witness others enjoying and nurturing the commons. When was the last time you felt connected on the road with fellow commuters? Contrast that with the feeling of seeing the canvas of human activity thriving at the beach at sunset. 

Commons must be shared and grown rather than exploited and depleted. Given Goa’s civic forwardness and progressive community cooperation, our opportunity is to leverage them rather than ignore them. Public investment must support this journey, looking beyond only building bigger roads but also investing in best-in-class public spaces and infrastructure that preserve and protect the commons of Goa.

(The author is an economist and a strategy consultant)