Panjim: The Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT) has expressed utter disappointment into the recently notified and much awaited Goa Tourism Policy 2020.
CRT stated that the government displayed its complete disconnect and ignorance about the present status of tourism in Goa as well as the challenges faced by the stakeholders and local communities involved in related activities.
“In the absence of a comprehensive development programme for people, very serious issues of environmental degradation, violation of Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ), cultural decay, sex tourism, easy availability of narcotics, child labour, child and women trafficking, alienation of communities from their lands have not been addressed,” reads a press statement issued by CRT on Friday.
It also stated that the Policy lacks the basic empirical data on tourism in the State, and is devoid of the necessary realistic statistics of the number of tourists, both foreign and domestic who visit Goa.
This fact, it added, was confirmed when the number of foreign tourists evacuated by the State government in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic far exceeded the number registered with the government.
Furthermore, the CRT said, the Policy fails to reflect the revenue generated and how much of the revenue is re-invested in the State.
The stakeholder also lamented that no code of ethics is visualised in the ‘Leisure and Entertainment’ section of Goa Tourism.
They also pointed out that locals are suffering due to the pathetic basic infrastructure of the State. They cited the examples of how electricity is constantly playing hide and seek; 24×7 water supply being a distant dream despite Goa receiving an annual rainfall of around 120 inches; and the telecommunication (phones and internet) being beyond the connectivity range.
“However the Tourism Policy 2020 is selling the development of infrastructure in ‘tourist-frequented’ areas. This raises the moot question whether this tourism policy is for the State of Goa or for tourist frequented areas. Can the government of Goa answer?” The CRT asked.
It also slammed the Department of Health’s failure to control the outbreak of vector borne and other diseases every year.
“The Goa State Pollution Control Board and Sewerage Corporation have failed to prevent the contamination of water bodies due to flow of sewage and leachate. The Saligao Waste Treatment Plant along with the local bodies has not been able to keep Goa garbage-free. The Department of Transport has been struggling for years to set up an efficient public transport system. Road safety is at its ebb. The public have lost faith in the law enforcing agencies especially the Goa Police,” it said, while adding that unless all these issues are addressed; there is no way quality tourism will grow in Goa, despite the Master Plan and Policy.
In conclusion, CRT said, the Goa Tourism Policy is a mirage which will not benefit the State and its people.
