Goa’s tourism is already in the doldrums and appears to be heading towards a final exit.
The latest proposal of the government is to create ‘drinking zones’ on the beaches when an already unmanageable problem exists of unruly tourists drinking on the beaches, getting drunk and refusing to listen to the cautionary advice of the lifeguards who are understaffed and, as a result, unable to save lives. Why add fuel to fire? As tourism is down even by our government’s own admission, the shack owners are struggling to make ends meet as they have to pay a hefty fee for rental of their shacks in addition to an excise tax. Will they smile and applaud the government’s plan to have ‘drinking zones’ not too far from the shacks where tourists, eat, drink and make merry? A lot of beaches also have 5-star tourist tanning themselves on the beaches and who want peace and quiet, a dream holiday and getaway from the hectic pace of life in their home countries. Will they welcome the noisy Indian holiday makers from other states shrieking on the beaches high on alcohol? Is this good for the 5-star hotel business? With no toilets for workers of beach shacks, noisy and drunk tourists screaming and dancing in the ‘drinking zones’ what is the message of the government? Is this a way to end tourism in Goa? I hope not.
