Tourism is the single most important
industry and revenue earner in our tiny state in the absence of mining, and the
dependence on it, is widespread directly and otherwise. Over the years we have
been witnessing a decline primarily in the quality, and then more recently in
the quantity of travellers and visitors, for reasons that we can only blame
ourselves for. Goans have, for years only taken our natural resources and
beauty for granted and done nothing to add value to it except put up mediocre
accommodation, start absolutely run of the mill restaurants, buy taxis and
attempt to recover the cost in one season; and exploit every adventurous soul
that ventures to experience the faded pearl of the orient, a shadow of the Rome
of the east, and flavours that once were Goa. To add to this we have draconian
and total misfit laws belonging to other states being implemented here,that
dampen whatever little spirit is left of our people.
First we were gifted with a sound control
act of Madhya Pradesh that does not consider that a state like Goa is dependent
on night life and parties, not just for the tourists but locals as well. If
that was not enough, this year, at the annual wine festival, a nouveau, pseudo
nationalistic activist decides that having the festival on Republic day,
something that has been happening for almost a decade, organised by the tourism
department, is not appropriate, and gets relief from a Maharashtra-based
tribunal that orders the excise department to withdraw the alcohol license
issued to stop its sale. We had a wine
festival without wine, and no amount of whine on the part of ministers or
government officials, made any difference as it was a holiday and as such,
check mate. To add to that, The Grape escapade, once a classy showcase for fine
wines and good food, has gone the tourism way and its charm has declined over
the years, losing its exclusivity to mediocrity and the need to expand and make
hay. I have been a part of this festival for many years and this was the most
disappointing, not in terms of the crowd but in terms of the quality of food
and wine while we had it. The good brands stayed away and so did the food
stalls, forcing the organisers to randomly fill up the space with whatever came
their way and at whatever cost. Over the past few years I have seen wine being
paired with frozen store bought fried chicken, but this year they had the
opportunity of pairing it with pedestrian style gobi Manchurian and baida roti.
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Goa is drowning in its own mediocrity and
is being pushed under by green institutions that ignore the actual destruction
of our green, and destroy the few good things that we still are clinging on to.
We still have a few worthwhile things in Goa that people will travel for , and
the sooner the realisation sets in the better. Festivals are a great way to
attract people and at the same time showcase our cuisine, art, our unique
culture and music and most importantly our heritage. Now I need to get some
cheese, after all that whine.
