Jill Dale Rodrigues
The year 1988, April people around the scenic Calangute beach amidst tall coconut trees, clean beach, a village full of vibrant people. The Western tourist clicking pictures of our village area, taking some memories with them. Domestic tourists just a handful yet the typical families enjoying the serenity of the waters!
My write up is with reference to the newspaper article written by Ewen Murray (Voice of Opinion, 19 June). Is the writer correct in his views on why the Europeans do not find Goa attractive? Unfortunately, I agree.
In the recent past we have seen a huge splurge of young, energetic domestic tourists emerging almost every week. That was one thing which we hardly saw during the 90’s when the European crowd slowly began to fade away. The young are mostly seen hiring bikes or rented cars or a jeep, and move out on their own, that’s when the taxi drivers feel the first pinch of losing what could have been business for them through transportation.
Living in the heart of what was once upon a time a place full of Europeans who would reside for over 3 months, a few in the recent past mentioned upon inquiring that they may visit some other places as Goa is getting expensive, overcrowded something which is very true.
The hospitality of people too has been another concern, while it is understandable that money is something we need to survive but are we hospitable enough to earn a feather in our caps and earn that most wanted title? With the influx of migrants, many of them narrate their sorry state of affairs, thus giving Goa a bad image. The European tourists had a way and manner towards appreciating the country they visit.
Goa is not on the top of the charts anymore. The warm hospitable people no longer exist as another noticeable view is with many moving out of the country, it’s not very far that very soon Goa will not be full of Goans but made Goans! We need to wake up and smell the problem rather than our coffee and start to act rather than react much later when it gets too late!
