After the severe setback we suffered on mining, we ought to have taken special pains to promote our other important industry: the tourism, so as to provide employment to as many people as possible, while simultaneously keeping our visitors happy, with them looking forward to another trip to Goa. Tourism, besides turning Goa world famous, has also been a boon to people, particularly those living in coastal areas as well as to drivers, taxi owners, motorcycle pilots, etc. Unfortunately, instead of regulating this industry and ensuring that it fulfills both the above objectives, the Government has kept tourism in total disarray that very few would feel inclined to visit Goa again.
The fame that Goa had of being a nature endowed beautiful place with hospitable and friendly people, fairly clean in comparison with other States, has been marred by murders, accidents, thefts, garbage, filth, cattle on the roads, dogs all over the place, not sparing our beaches, destruction of environment, absence of adequate transport facilities and lack of proper infrastructure. It ought to have been in the interest of the Government and of the people themselves to ensure that Goa remained a tourist attraction, which would benefit all. But very painfully, Goans themselves are collaborators in killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Goans, known all over for their honesty and good manners, are now more notorious for fleecing tourists, indulging in drug trade and even turning aggressive at times. Goa is now famous but for all the wrong reasons..
Several tourists have either been murdered or have died in road accidents or in suspicious circumstances. Investigations into mysterious deaths or murders are flawed, sometimes deliberately, either to extort or anticipating lack of interest from the victim’s relatives, unable to pursue cases vigorously, from outside the country. Hotels and restaurants overcharge tourists, with accommodation prices hitting the roof, during Christmas/New Year. Many visitors have expressed shock that rates in hotels, particularly the starred ones are much higher than even in Western countries. Traffic Police are often themselves seen “terrorizing” tourists on the pretext of protecting us from “terrorists”. Despite appeals in the Press to stop this harassment, such scenes are pretty common. Surely, we would not have liked to meet the same fate when we go out of Goa.
Of the taxis, especially the tourist ones, the less said the better. We have recently witnessed the drama, which put people to untold hardships and left the tourists justifiably fuming. Letters from tourists in the Press depict a very sorry picture of Goa with some swearing that they will not come here again. There is no reason why they should opt for Goa when they can have better, friendlier and cheaper destinations. Goa has totally lost its credibility with an inefficient and impotent Government in power.
The implementation of speed governors for taxis has been postponed though their availability in Goa has been confirmed. But what people and especially tourists are waiting for is the installation of meters, which will crush the shameful exploitation by taxi drivers. I have always had, perhaps an often unjustified, soft corner for our Goan brethren. But, this comes from the discrimination which we sometimes face vis-a vis the vote banks of outsiders. Hence, my sympathies would have been with my fellow Goan taxi drivers. But the taxi lobby is also a vote bank, which due to their strength held people to ransom. And, as Herald has rightly argued, if taxi drivers/owners are Goans, the exploited or the fleeced are often also helpless Goans. Their dadagiri at South Goa hotels goes to the extent of even people picking up family members and friends being questioned and abused. We have tolerated this for too long. A London based Goan lady was recently charged Rs 5000 by a taxi driver for a trip from Margao to Saligao with a 3 hour wait. It was also reported that another taxi driver arranged a car for a family going from Margao to airport as he himself could not go due to the strike. Though the deal was for Rs 2000, midway, the car driver said that the charges would be Rs 10,000, which forced one of the occupants to stop at an ATM to draw money, as they would otherwise miss the flight. Absolutely detestable, heartless exploitation by a fellow Goan! Do such people deserve any sympathy? There are such countless incidents to be narrated of tourists and Goans being fleeced mainly by taxi drivers, with rickshaws and pilots being no exception.
Forget about tourists, but Goans themselves no longer have any sympathy for taxi drivers and this has been evident during the taxi strike. The Government is also keen in ending this arrogance, which has brought a bad name to the tourism industry in Goa. Except for those believing in vote-banks and a few others, Goans in general are keen on implementation of meters. The fact that taxis may have to be contented with only one or two trips a day cannot be an excuse to fleece people. It is time taxi owners themselves give in and learn to earn their living in an honest and honourable way. Else they themselves are bound to be the losers, as either alternatives will have to be found or tourism will indeed get a beating.
(The author is a retired banker).
