That we have to go after high paying, up-market tourists is a common opinion among a lot of our MLAs, and our tourism sector and stakeholders, too, are gung-ho!
Great. Tell me, however, what are we going to do with a high percentage of low paying tourists who visit Goa all through the year, the kind which arrive by bus or car from our neighboring states; and, although they own a car find the hotel rates and guest houses much too expensive for their pockets or taste. What do we do with them? India is one physical and political entity, and even if these tourists are not popular with most people in the state they are Indian citizens and have a right to travel anywhere in India. The Tourism Minister cannot dig his head and bury it deep in the sands of our beaches; he is in charge, and he has to come up with a solution. It is his job and responsibility. And, worse, the problem is not going away, anytime soon. The recent no drinking and cooking in public places rules intended to prevent tourists is good news for people who live in Goa. Hefty fines are sometimes a good way to get a point across! But where do the tourists sleep? Beggars in Goa, and elsewhere all over India, sleep in public places - this is our culture - and sometimes they get beaten up or run over by a car. And so it is realistic to expect tourists to think they too have a right to sleep anywhere if they cannot find affordable accommodation. Even if they own a car they may not want to spend much money or think 500 rupees is more than enough for a night's sleep for two or more people. Now, no one should interfere with their right of freedom of movement and travel, they probably think. Maybe, they even think it is a fundamental right to sleep in public under the stars even though they have a choice unlike beggars. As this is our culture, and this is our country, we need to discuss this issue and find solutions to our problems; no need to talk of the situation in foreign countries. We have some problems in India which are quintessentially Indian, and in need of Indian solutions. Maybe it is time for campgrounds where people who travel by buses and other vehicles can park and sleep on the cheap. An example of eco-friendly tourism? We have to do it since we cannot turn away penny-pinching Indian tourists from neighboring states without causing an unnecessary and unwelcome mini-revolution. We don't need any more social upheavals than are already a part of our lives. We have no other choice but to organize camping grounds; otherwise Goa will soon be getting much dirtier. If we don't, more and more foreign tourists will leave Goa for other places in India which are as culturally interesting and equally clean or dirty (Goa isn't the only interesting place) and our tourism coffers will become even more empty than they are now. Only casinos and EDMs - desperate measures? - can bring back to life the flow of money into the state's full-of-air coffers. Do we want this sort of monetary transfusion every year? While prostitution and illegal drugs make a lot of money, as neither is legal, there is no benefit to tax revenue. Goa is now dancing on the edge of disaster and may fall into a deep hole which might not be a wonderland. The tourism sector and stakeholders in Goa have to step up their performance as time is running out fast for tourism's span of life. What we are seeing this year - the decline in tourism - might well be the new standard and pattern of measurement for the next few years or even decade. We cannot stop the tide of low paying tourists however much we may fantasize - all we can do at this point in time is get ready to absorb them into a well organized tourism industry or we might not have any industry in future. If the new CRZ and other laws which are environmentally unfriendly are implemented our beaches and hinterland will soon rival the crowded beaches and slums of Mumbai. Goa is too small a place to take a chance. We cannot play matka with the future of Goa. We won't or will we? There will be no way to turn back the tide later.
