Hi all Recent reports are reaching us in the UK via various media that the tourist season in Goa is in "sorrow" mode. No-one however should be killing the fat goose, because after all these years, the fat goose has finally got it just right, laying the perfect golden "Win-Win" egg.
The first win, our Niz Goykars in Goa must be rejoicing that their land is gradually being returned to them to live in peace. It must have been horrendous all these years to live in a place where a large amount of people descend during the tourist season causing conjection, traffic jams, loud noise, ear drum bursting music, crowded buses, extra garbage being strewn all over the place not to mention the rise in prices for their local commodities like fish, meat, vegetables and other essentials as well as the all important rise in airport landing fees in Dabolim and taxi fares, that is if you can get one! Rises that probably do not match their purchasing power or salary scales leaving local Goykars all disgruntled, fed up and wishing to obtain a foreign passport at any cost to escape far from the madding crowd rather than dealing with these issues themselves. The second win, tourists from all over the world have now come to realise that what they spend on their holiday in Goa on visas, air fares, chocolates and other presents, taxis, accommodation, eating in restaurants, etc. does not ultimately represent in monetary terms a "value for money" holiday for their hard earned cash. For those travelling from UK for instance, the sunnier parts of Europe are on the door step and present a good, clean and much cheaper option. The Russians, facing a drop in their local currency, are probably also being tempted by other holiday destinations of Egypt, Turkey, etc. who are competitive in their pricing. Added to this the problems in Goa of greed, rising crime, mounting garbage, lack of clean public toilets, mosquitos, flies, roaming stray dogs and other animals cannot be ignored any longer. This "Win-Win" egg has provided the perfect solution, Goa is gradually being returned to its people to enjoy the susegade way of life our ancestors were accustomed to before and ultimately to its former natural glory. Rose Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 25 January 2015
