After the wet monsoon, comes the blazing hot sun of the harvest, and Goa turns to getting down to the serious business of economics again. October was once the month when mining operations began after the monsoon break, now this no longer happens as the sector has come to a standstill. The earliest that there can be some resolution – political and legal – to the mining impasse is December. Thousands are awaiting this, banking on the statement of the Chief Minister who announced this new target date for a decision, on his return from New Delhi.
Officially, the tourism season has started. Hotels have switched over to their season’s tariff and the first charter flight has landed. But, shacks are not up on the beach, and the reason for this is known to all. The industry is hoping for a season that will climb above the average, but the collapse of Thomas Cook UK has sent a shiver down the spines of the industry stalwarts who had been looking forward to the British tourist that flies in on the charter aircraft. This is one October that has dashed the hopes of many in the mining and tourism industry.
Sadly, the tourism season has got off to an even worse start. Just a couple of days before the curtains went up on the season, a foreign tourist was found hanging from a tree in Candolim. A few days later, a tourist from Delhi was killed by a lightning strike while at Candolim beach, and his wife was injured. While the latter is an accident that the State can have no control over, there are questions being raised on the beach safety and lifeguard services that the government has put in place along the beaches of Goa. There were, as per reports, no rescue vehicles nor stretchers available on the beach when the lightning strike took place. Yes, shacks have been kept on hold by the National Green Tribunal until the Coastal Zone Management Plan has been finalised for the State, but what about rescue services?
It is clear that Goa is just not prepared for the tourist season. Today, with the mining sector shut, tourism is the main industry in Goa, and such unpreparedness to meet the start of the season portrays the State rather poorly in the international light. As Goa discusses who will clear the garbage on the beaches and who will safeguard them, the tourists are already pouring in. The Tourism Minister has welcomed the charter tourists, wishing them a wonderful time in the State, but just what has been done so that they can have a ‘wonderful time’ during their stay in Goa?
The State has little to offer. With beach shacks on hold, the beach beds and umbrellas too will not be found on the beaches of the State. So, will the tourist be forced to spread a towel on the sand and lie down on it? Of course this is possible and does happen, but is the sand clean enough for the tourist to do this? Frankly, for a State that depends so much on the sand as its sole appeal, having never looked beyond the coast for other possible tourism attractions, why can’t it remain prepared to welcome the season and the tourists with the best it has to offer? That’s the least that is expected from the State.
If the private sector can get ready for the season on time every year, why can’t the government? The charters have landed and the tourists they bring have got their rooms and service. So why is it that it is always the government that misses the deadline?
