It is a topic that has been discussed at regular intervals at the official level and in
private circles. That is the need to shift the focus of the tourism industry to
the hinterland. This would ensure the wealth generated by the business spreads
into the villages of the city.
Poonam Ribo who runs a company that organises responsible and
eco friendly nautical sports said in order to get a diverse tourist it was
important to promote diverse tourism. She said “Other states like gujrat,
kerela, MP promotes their niche USP services, and Goa is lucky to have such a
variety of niche services and places. From the already known beaches, casino
and party hubs to the yet to get noticed wildlife sanctuaries, ecological
activities like kayaking, hikes, treks and campsites. If we focus on promoting
the same, Goa will benefit with an immense variety of tourists. It will be a
win win win situation for tourists, locals and the state”.
Maria Victor who runs a experiential travel company specializing
in curating heritage trails and cultural experiences conducted by presenters
who are deeply rooted in the essence of real Goa had much to say on the
subject. She said “In a rush to capitalize on the booming tourism industry a
lot has been compromised- environment, community and the quality of travel has
remarkably reduced. Today travelers are overwhelmed with top heavy mainstream
attractions and hurried itinerary and often omit cultural immersion and
experience. However, travelers are increasingly seeking for more meaningful
experiences. Luxury travel is being outshined by travel that leaves an
indelible mark in the memory of enthusiastic seekers. The emphasis being on
“seeking memorable moments” vis a vis “checking the to-do list.”
Maria said her company looked at tourism as a platform to
nurture and showcase local talent from musicians, artists, traditional
occupations, and off course passionate storytellers. This, she said, not only
creates opportunities for livelihood but also imbibes a sense of pride in their
own culture and heritage which would otherwise be neglected and lost forever.
She said “ We specialize in designing community-led local Experiences such as
Heritage Walks, Village Experiences, E-bike Tours, Culinary Experiences and
Virtual Experiences. Our experiences are curated to bring to life stories that
are unheard of. We connect travelers to local communities and through vivid
storytelling by our local hosts, we take you through history, architecture,
legends, savor local delicacies, and experience the local way of life. We
encourage slow travel which emphasizes on establishing a connection between the
traveler and the local people and their culture, rather than manic sightseeing
which does not leave much space and time to assimilate another culture”.
Smita Patil who runs a eco farm in the interiors of Dharbandora
said she had people who were coming from all over. Smita said “People want the
sand and the beaches and we are located in the interiors. It can be a little
difficult to come over. We need to market ourselves aggressively. That has to
be worked out. I also believe the tourism department should help in this
process. They should put us on the tourist map. The DudhSagar has been promoted
and there are large crowds over there. That needs to be done for other places
in the interior. Then eco-tourism will get a boost.”
For a first generation entrepreneur Basuri Desai who has an eco
resort at Cotigao wildlife sanctuary said the state had the advantage of having
a great appeal for everyone in the country as well as the world. He however
felt the state government was not very keen on promoting tourism because
nothing had moved from the time the policy was released. He bemoaned the fact
there was no single window to get clearances and one had to run from pillar to
post which was always a very frustrating experience. Basuri said “This is the
most important industry in the state which contributes so much to the exchequer
but there seems to be an absence of speed to get things done”
It
is very important for the industry to spread into the interiors because that is
the only way everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits that come from the industry.
