Goa, is often refered as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ or ‘Bhangarachem Gõy’(Golden Goa). Some still call Goa the most peaceful place in India!
Yes, we have had these adages since a very long time. But given how tourism is taking shape today, Goa has become a big G G D — that’s a golden gambling destination. The tag is undeservingly bestowed by the gamblers themselves who frequent the casinos. It may sound frustrating to niz Gõykars (ethnic Goans). But it’s a reality.
Goa is loved by everyone, be it foreigners or domestic tourists, but now that the foreigners have refused to visit Goa as a destination, some of the domestic tourists have become a total nuisance. The breakdown of governance seems to be proving this point in totality. The absence of any realistic tourism policy has made matters even worse. Any right thinking person in his/her wisdom would have given his/her vision through tourism policy for present and future development. Unless, they are all comfortable with the present trend of doing business with ease at his/her own will. Governance is definitely not child’s play.
Let me put forth some of the pointers which may help someone to draw the blueprint of Tourism Policy for Goa. I only hope and pray that it will stir-up the mind and soul of the concerned minister/department.
DISCIPLINE: Discipline is the very essence of any good governance. Start disciplining the tourism department. The disciplining of the security agencies including the police is very much needed. Harassing the tourists unnecessarily will get Goa a bad image in the tourism market. Instead, extending a helping hand will do wonders.
AIRPORT: The first impression is a lasting impression on any visitor coming to the state. So, discipline at the airport’s arrival lounge is to be the first priority. The loitering and business seeking taxi drivers outside the arrival hall should be contained and systematically addressed to give a clean image. Unwanted parking of vehicles gives a bad impression. Stop the menace of touts in and around the airport and at city bus stands. Any ugly incident has to be tackled with utmost care and the culprit booked and fined so that a clear message is sent to the potential trouble maker.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Goa needs to have a decent public transport. Don’t expect every visitor or tourist to hire taxis or rickshaws for their conveyance from hotel to various villages. Upgrade every city bus stands which are presently in pathetic conditions. Let bus-stands be commuter friendly. It should have a place to rest and better ways and means to spot the buses to their respective destinations. Let buses display the places/stops from point to point so that the passengers learn the place of their destination. Make public transport available at least till midnight which would help the tourists as well as locals to move out easily. Let the city markets remain open at least by 10 pm, which would help people and tourists alike to shop around. Here again security plays a vital role. Make it happen.
Further, scrap the scooter/motor-cycles rent a bike policy in its totality. It’s the scooter driven tourists who plays spoilsport everywhere throwing the safety norms to the wind.
Introduce cycling bylanes in every tourist bound village. These lanes will help to take a friendly ride and explore the village life. Let there be a cart or shop serving local foods or tea and snacks after every 100 metres and this can help the locals to be part and parcel of tourism. After all, the locals have a share of the tourism industry pie.
LOCATIONS: Develop potential locations for hinterland tourism with cottages. Let there be no competitions with the rest of the world, eg Pattaya, Singapore or Dubai, but let visitors enjoy the sun, sand and surf. Make tourism destination in the hinterland such as lakes and water bodies as places to explore. Decent cottages run by the locals should be encouraged with clean toilets and bedrooms with breakfast. Goa is now an added popular destination for the birders and wildlife photographers’ fraternity from across the globe. Tap its potentiality. Make the water bodies in and around Panjim city, people friendly. Deal with an iron hand to eliminate the menace of land squatters.
FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT: Tourists come to Goa to taste a variety of Goan cuisine and enjoy music. But with music stopping by 10 pm no tourism industry can flourish nor survive. Goa must enact its own ‘Sound Pollution Act’, as per needs of the state. In the name of sound pollution, our traditional festivals and weddings have been badly affected. Stop putting hurdles to our Goan traditions and culture that has so much to offer to the visitors. Don’t expect visitors to go to bed by 10 pm. But all these activities should not be at the cost of safety, peace and discipline. Put it all into practice. Don’t be mistaken a hard rock musical concert for that of Goan weddings.
POLICE & TOURISM: Controlling and detecting drug mafia with iron hand should be the top priority. Goa has made unwanted headlines with regard to drug menace. Let visitors have freedom from venturing out fearlessly 24×7. The past murders or drug related deaths are well known to the rest of the world. Many times our police have done a wonderful job in nabbing the robbers but shied away from giving justice to others especially to those foreigners who were found murdered under mysterious circumstances. That has been a blot on our police investigations.
HOTELS: Hotels classification should be a serious matter to the tourism industry. Many hotels in Goa are below par compared to their designated star category with regard to services they offer. Any increase in new hotels should be matched with growth of tourism. So, at least five years of moratorium should be enforced until new licenses are issued.
BEAUTIFICATION: Let there be beautification at the airport first. Let the dying parks in the cities be cleaned and beautified. Every tourist place should be taken care of with proper lighting and signages.
ACTIVITIES: The tourists don’t come to Goa just to eat and sleep in their respective hotels. Hence we need to have a choice of activities and that is the duty of the state. Every tourist knows our favourite food and music. Birding trips, hiking and exploring the forest, boating etc should be entrusted to the professionals. An annual tourism calendar with various activities should be released in advance.
GARBAGE: Garbage is just a never ending menace of Goa. Garbage is a ticking time bomb for Goa. Address this menace at all cost. It will be worth erecting huge hoardings with dos and don’ts to educate the people and tourists alike. Levy heavy fines for littering. We have to admit that most of the garbage is generated and littered by the migrants.
