Are we strangling the golden goose of tourism?

Jobs are plentiful in countries where tourism is well-structured and creative initiatives thrive. Most are unskilled jobs that require quick training. The percentage of jobs per tourist is high. Therefore the sector draws close attention in countries featuring landmark monuments, a rich cultural heritage and an agreeable climate. The tourist spends on goods and services and may even extend the length of his stay should he feel pampered enough and welcome. Not any tourist, but the one non-pollutant.

It is India’s ambition to generate 100 million new jobs over the next five years. The number of foreign tourists is expected to rise from the current 14.4 to 40 million.

Dreams are welcome when followed by serious work to accomplish them. Targets should be set within a realistic range that steers clear from blatant demagoguery. To that end there is a need to train staff to high standards of professionalism. More importantly, tourist operators should be invited and shown around the country. They must be taken to attractive spots to enjoy and then organise their tours.

There are creative answers that help maximise a tourist’s experience. Suffice to think about what would please each one of us as a traveller abroad. I set out some of my own expectations and frustrations.

Upon arriving weary in any country, one would wish for quick clearance through passport control and security checks. At India’s major airports (I have in mind Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai, Kolkata) there is a large number of visa and passport control desks. However, on deplaning there appear to be strikingly few border control officials. Efficient management of the service entails the hiring of extra staff manning dedicated desks – e-visas, health tourism, foreigners, OCI foreigners, travellers needing assistance, etc. These employees could carry out common roles during off-peak hours. Generally, passenger processing at EU airports is fast also because efficient electronic systems are in place.

Daily stats on average waiting times should be produced, published and compared with other airports, both national and international. Conventional wisdom lets us know that that which is not measured will not get upgraded. Besides, factual comparative analysis may lead to broader improvements.

Baggage delivery systems work well, so too the taxi service improved noticeably once Uber, Ola, etc., started operations. The latter raised the standards of service while pushing prices down. At the airport’s arrival’s curb side, space should be allotted to Ola and Uber for picking up passengers, as is the case for MERU, Mega Cabs and others.

In addition to existing infrastructure (hotels, transportation by plane, train, bus, telephones, internet, hospitals and pharmacies…) every State should organise events such as music, book, gastronomy, sweets, flower and fruit festivals, elephant and camel parades, etc. All wrapped up in upbeat advertising at home and abroad and also at iconic locations like in the gardens of an ancient royal palace…

In particular, buildings listed as world heritage sites and other main monuments should be cleaned, maintained and opened to the general public. Attention should be paid to the upkeep of toilets, drinking water supplied to parks and gardens allowing tourists to relax and enjoy the sunshine in open air surroundings.

The sale of souvenirs related to each monument can be expanded to include booklets, films, photos, etc., trinkets, little objects akin to the Barcelos cock. In short everything that a pleased tourist may take home to gift friends and family with.

Booklets should refer to the picturesque encompassing the monument’s history, construction period, local traditions and folk culture, aspects of daily life, gastronomy, festivities, relevant people and institutions, Nobel prize winners, if any.

Of utmost importance is taking the highest number of tourists to Goa and have them observe the ‘crime’ that is being committed there. By allowing companies like Adani, Jindal, Vedanta and others to import 25M tonnes of coal through the port of Mormugao – to then get trucked and barged across the territory´s roads, railways and rivers – residents face a perilous future while environmental pollution is increased to new levels.

According to the International Business Magazine, Goa’s tourism industry attracted over five million domestic and foreign tourists in 2016; tourism is bound to decline in the years ahead should the fight against coal imports fail. 

In fact, we’re witnessing the ‘killing of the goose that lays the golden eggs!’.