Hello everybody we are all here to discuss and oversee the conspiracy that has erupted by the marks made by a very senior member of this cabinet Sudin Dhavalikar for the last 3-4 days. There has been tremendous outrage in civil society, in the Goan Industry, among people and the youth over the manner in which Goa has been projected, over the manner in which the PWD minister has actually spoken of banning pubs and bikinis at beaches. We are here to discuss the impact of these kinds of utterances even though he has refracted (now he says no) which itself is good. The Chief Minister has sent positive signals, the State does not actually endorse such kinds of remarks, but at the same time it has caused a damage which we feel, will cause a huge impact on tourism in Goa.
Sujay: Now let us look at what Sudin Dhavalikar actually said. He began by saying that it’s against Goan culture to go to pubs, he said that it is not pretty sight when Goan girls drink and dance in pubs. He says a bikini is not an attire to be worn on beaches and it attracts people. He claims that he is saying this because he cares about the safety of women. These remarks have obviously not gone down in good light, but I will start with Kabir and ask him one initial question:
What is going to be the impact of all this?
Kabir Pinto Makhija: Well first I would like to say that in a democracy everyone has the right to one’s opinion and so does Dhavalikar, but I would like to say one more thing that the mindset of the Indian man has to change. You have to treat women as a human being and with respect and not as some object or commodity. She cannot be discriminated against, she is equal as man and in that sense she has all the right to her lifestyle and clothing choices. We do not impose anything on women. Now, as far as this statement is concerned, it is going to have a very negative impact on the tourism in Goa. People all over the world pick up statements like such, and then they pick up very wrong sense of Goa.
Now, I can’t understand this statement about bikinis and stuff. If you can’t wear those on beaches, where are you supposed to wear that and if not then what are you supposed to wear at the beach? If you want to talk about that and say that it is vulgar, what about the domestic tourists who come to Goa, who are roaming around in their little jockey, roaming around drinking beer, ogling at women, trying to get close to them or click a photograph and show them at their home as a souvenir. Is that not vulgarity?
Sujay: How does it impact you firstly as a resident and citizen of Goa?
Michael Lobo: Dhavalikar comes from a family of priests. So he talks about culture, he talks about protection of women. These are his personal views because of his background, his village, his identity and where he stays. I have seen how the people stay there, they are still like how they were in the old days, so he has got certain principles and values, so he tried to bring it out and say “We have to stay and dress up like this”. But when you look at the larger angle and look at Goa as tourist destination and when you look at the coastal belt, when you look at the economy and the industry, you realise that we are purely living on this industry after the ban on mining. After mining stopped, where is the income coming from? It is purely tourism. So if you look at these two angles, his part is purely based on his ethics, his way of thinking for his community or for his people. When MGP ruled Goa, bikini ‘culture’ existed too.
Michael Lobo: The minister has already apologised for his remarks on women. But I feel responsible people, like him in the Government, or any other minister or anywhere in India, should not talk anything against a woman or give his views how a woman should live or act. Secondly, when it comes to tourism State like Goa, no minister, MLA or any other responsible person should say things which will give a bad name to Goa and for the industry. We should contribute towards growth and not negativity.
Sujay: Ekatarina you are a very important stakeholder. Firstly, let me begin by asking you what effect this will have, whether these kinds of remarks will affect Russian tourism.
E Katarina: If it really happens and you restrict bikinis on beaches, this will create uncomfortable situations for the tourists. One of the main reasons why Russian tourists come here is good weather, compared to Russia and for the beaches. I know Russians love winter destinations and Goa is number 5 compared to other destinations. So it will be upsetting for the Russian tourists, because of this reason, the region would be closed for them. They will be not happy to come to Goa and choose some other destination. 35% of them are repeat visitors. If they come to know that their wife cannot wear a bikini or enjoy a drink, for sure they will be upset.
Sujay: Prostitution, drug culture has influenced Goa and many people have talked about it. Russians have for sometime been in the forefront of these discussions.
Sarfaraz Alam: We understand that in Russia where things are quite free and tourists who come down to Goa get a free lifestyle in Goa, which they like a lot. But an extreme of anything is wrong. Personally what I feel we should not give statements about women, we have to give statements about men, about those boys who go to the beach and click pictures and show it to their friends and all that. We have to control them. The mentality of Europeans, Americans and Russians is totally different. Russians are more aggressive, take faster decisions and are kind and good by heart. Every country has to maintain its own ethics and culture.
Sujay: This whole issue of right tourism and bad tourism, my point is that a bit of what Mr Dhavalikar is saying is also true
Michael: Yes his outburst was because of things like drugs, prostitution, illegal massage parlours operating and so on.
Sujay: While its very alarming that these statements have come at a time while tourism can be impacted, but there is also negative impact which is taking place. We also need to look into that as well.
Kabir: Like my friend Michael he has been voicing on drugs, illegal massage parlours and prostitution. He has been hitting out and even giving lists to the police. But as I said that tourism is the main breadwinner in Goa, one cannot dismiss the whole issue because of some negative points. One has to just crack down on the drugs and prostitution. Tourists can be educated, steps can be taken to reduce incidents, but one cannot just make an invalid statement like the one Dhavalikar did. On one hand, tourism ministry is doing everything to promote Goa and then on the other hand irresponsible statements like such, will have a negative impact.
Sujay: But ministers justify such statements because there’s is prevalent decadent and criminal culture. People come here to do drugs and go.
Michael: I have been talking on these matters regularly; that the police should crack down on such matters. Drugs were sold openly in earlier times, but the situation has improved big time. Finally, the Anti-Narcotics Cell and the local police have to crack down and totally raid these places which are selling this.
Sujay: Statistics of arrivals from Russia show that the maximum tourists are women between 18 and 30 and that’s increasing. While that can’t be a yardstick to brand anyone, the sheer increase in the menace has coincided with the arrivals of Russians.
Sarfaraz: There cannot be smoke without fire. If this had not existed why would we reading about girls involved in prostitution and all?
Sujay: Ekatarina, have you come across any single girl who has been involved in all this?
Ekatarina: For sure, no one has told me about that. Even if I go to a party and see a beautiful girl I don’t know whether she is a prostitute or just a normal girl. You can have an opinion that girls from Russia come here to indulge into this, but that’s just because of the sex ratio. The percentage of girls is 60-40 compared to men.
Concluding remarks
Sujay: Ministers who bring Goa down by such statements and people from all over the world and secondly while we completely condemn the minister, we also need to look at the larger picture and the ills of tourism and lastly we need to comprehend this as a law & order problem which needs to be cracked down completely so that the ills of tourism are completely out and Goa gets back the glorious days of lovely beaches and friendly people. Thank you!
You have to treat women with respect and not as some object or commodity. She cannot be discriminated against, she is equal as man and in that sense she has all the right to her lifestyle and clothing choices. As far as Dhavalikar’s statement is concerned, it is going to have a very negative impact on the tourism in Goa.
— Kabir Pinto Makhija
When it comes to tourism State like Goa, no minister, MLA or any other responsible person should say things which will give a bad name to Goa and for the industry. We should contribute towards growth and not negativity.
— Michael Lobo
We understand that in Russia where things are quite free and tourists who come down to Goa get a free lifestyle in the State, which they like a lot. But an extreme of anything is wrong. I feel we should not give statements about women, we have to give statements about men, about those boys who go to the beach and click pictures and show it to their friends and all that. We have to control them.
— Sarfaraz Alam
One of the main reasons why Russian tourists come to Goa is good weather, compared to Russia and for the beaches. If they come to know that their wife cannot wear a bikini or enjoy a drink, for sure they will be upset.
— Ekatarina Belyakova
