On March 15, all mining activity in Goa, involving iron ore extraction, came to a grinding halt for the second time in nearly two years.
With mining coming to a halt, Tourism is now the only potential economic growth driver in Goa and source of new jobs. There is already a high growth in the number of tourist visiting Goa. In the last 4 years alone, tourist numbers went from 3.1 million in 2013 to 6.33 million in 2016 (figures provided by the Department of Tourism, Goa). With the State’s population at 1.8 million, we are having to cope with a significantly larger proportion of visiting population of tourists each year, which creates severe challenges in terms of providing adequate infrastructure, waste management and managing impact on the fragile ecosystems upon which local communities depend for their livelihoods.
The current approach of scaling mass tourism in an unregulated manner will not sustain for long, as we can already see our beaches getting destroyed, garbage piling and greed creeping in the locals to make a quick buck by fleecing the tourist. None of this makes for an attractive tourist destination.
We could learn a few thingsin building a sustainable tourism plan from Portugal, who won the award for Europe’s leading tourism destination at the World Travel Awards in 2017.
Portugal was facing financial and public debt crises, increasing unemployment and decline in GDP. Under such economic circumstances, tourism has helped revitalise its economy and has seen a rapid expansion in recent years.Tourism and all travel-related revenues account for about 10% of Portugal’s GDP which expanded 2.7% last year.
Portugal’s strategy has been to affirm tourism as a hub for economic, social and environmental development throughout the whole territory, positioning Portugal as one of the most competitive and sustainable tourist destinations in the world.
Cultural tourism is proving to be a vital tool for sustainable tourism in Portugal. Farm stays, country inns and restaurants are vitally boosting income by hosting and feeding visitors who, thanks to the wonderful climate, are increasingly visiting year-round. A demand for crafts and local produce helps maintain production as well as pride in the preservation of ancient skills.
Goa shares similar culture, cuisine, architecture, music, and is coupled with the natural bounty of a gentle coastline, flecked with sheltered bays, long beaches, coral reefs, estuaries,stunning diversity of riverine systems, river islands, mangroves, forests, fertile fields and hills. Investment should be directed towards revivingculture and heritage of Goa.
Goa has 50 protected heritage monuments maintained under the state government, Directorate of Archives. Public private partnerships can be sought to restore and curate sustainable tourism projects around these sites.As per the Department of Tourism, Goa, there are 3575 hotels in Goa. Out of which only 2 hotels are listed under heritage hotels. Rather than allotting more land and resources in development of new hotels, focus should be on encouraging development of heritage and eco-friendly accommodation at existing sites and structures.
Like the rest of India, Goa too has stringent legal restrictions on destroying natural heritage. However, of late, lack of enforcement of any of these rules, in the context of ocean zoning, multi-use management of coastal spaces, and insensitive development have become the norm rather than the exception.The public waste management systems particularly in the villages where much of the tourism in Goa is focused are inadequate and cannot deal with the garbage produced by mass tourist activities. Enabling hotels and shacks to reduce and manage their waste, to install sewage treatment plants, etc and providing some incentives or benefits to players that already follow this, will benefit all in the long term.
Portugal has spurred an entrepreneurial ecosystem with easy financing options, high-speed fixed broadband, new programs to bring innovation and digitization to tourism enterprises.
Such an ecosystem should be developed in Goa. Improving broadband speed and improving public transport system is essential. Tax subsidies, easy financing and investment opportunities can be provided to owners of heritage homes who wish to convert their home to heritage hotels, restaurants, museums and other initiatives. Tech startups and social enterprises that have innovative sustainable business models could be given incentive to introduce new initiatives.
Walking tours, Heritage Trails and Local Experiences have become very popular choices. You only need to visit any European country to see the huge potential of this segment. They are environmentally conscious, interested in staying in homestays, village resorts and support local arts and crafts. Involvement of local communities in developing new tourism products and rebranding Goa as a culturally immersive destination will bring about a sustainable growth in tourism.
Over burdening the tourism sector to focus on increasing the number of tourists will only have a destructive impact. Instead, focusing on heritage and local experiences and enforcing a sustainable tourism model, will have a long-term benefit.
