For many communities and countries throughout the world tourism is the
most valuable industry. East Asia, Caribbean and the Pacific Rim are
experiencing unprecedented growth in tourism industry. As per the World
Tourism Organisation – Tourism 2020 Vision forecast international
arrivals are expected to reach nearly 1.6 billion by year 2020.
International arrivals forecast for India expected to reach nearly 10 to
10.5 million by year 2020. With economic policy perspective, tourism for
local communities is a vital economic development tool producing income,
creating jobs, spawning new businesses, spurring economic development,
promoting economic diversification, developing new products, and
contributing to economic integration.
The successive Goa Governments has failed to formulate a clear Goa
centric tourisms policy. Though Goa managed to create itself brand ‘GOA’
thanks to Hippies in 1970 and Bollywood in 1990’s the State Governments
could not envisaged right tourism policy. With constant change in
Government due to political instability (Seventh Assembly 1990 –94 had
world record 7 Chief Ministers) just as all other development plan,
tourism too suffered badly. People at the helm got busy changing goal
post east-west-north-south rather than have fixed goal to achieve
success in tourism. The Twelve Players in Goa Government (unlike
eleven in football team) instead of focusing how to achieve tourism
success goal they like to change goal post position as per individual
whims and fancies.
There has to be holistic approach in formulating Goa centric tourisms
policy. It must have clear vision and mission with objectives and goals
set for next 25 years. Tourism is much more dynamic then what it was
25 years ago and so it is very important to explore the various types of
tourism concept and select Goa centric concept. The various types of
tourism concepts can be classified By Product: Mass Tourism Package tour
- Alternative Tourism Ecotourism. By purpose: Pleasure, Culture,
heritage, Nature-based (eco-) tourism, and rural tourism. By nature of
the activity: (Active) Adventure tourism, Ecotourism, (Passive)
Sightseeing Beach holiday Cruise. Location preference: Coastal, Rural,
City, Mountains. By age/socio-economic group. By domestic /international
group.
The infrastructure is a key to any development but this cannot be at
cost of environmental degradation. Does Goa have the required
infrastructure to achieve its tourism successes? If there is a need,
than what is financial cost involved. What could be the returns on
investment made on the tourism related project? The damage to
environment will have far reaching consequences if the check and balance
in not maintained. There are clear evidences of beach pollutions at
Colva, Miramar, Calangute and Baga. The rampant construction of hotels
on Goa's coastline without proper sanitation and sewage treatment as
result hotel injecting sewage in the ground causing underground water
contamination. The Golden Beaches of Goa fast turning Coal Beaches and
if corrective measures are not taken we will turn Goa beaches like Juhu
in Mumbai.
Government of Goa claims total 2.12 million domestic & .37 international
tourists arrived in Goa during the year 2009. But what is the barometer
to gauge the success of our tourism industry? Big numbers by itself will
not translate into good season. It is also important to know spending
habits of the tourist. Bringing hordes of (poor) tourist who just eat
fish & curry will not bring in economic benefits to the State. Fly by
domestic tourist coming to gamble at casinos by night and return back to
Mumbai at day-break cannot be counted as tourist. Goa is now more
famous for drugs, gambling and rapes than its beaches. It is not in the
interest of Goa to maintain this notoriety for the long term success of
Tourism Industry.
In India and Goa in particular economic changes taking place (Globally
almost 3 billion people, half the world's population) and will have
major impacts on Social-cultural changes tomorrow. In this context the
Government of Goa must develop and be committed to broad based tourism
policies based on economic, environmental, and social benefits to the
people of Goa. Tourism Policy and Planning has to have key ingredients:
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. These key ingredients must give
direction to positive tourism policies and planning that will lead this
generation and the next toward a greater quality of life resulting from
tourism growth.
Agnelo Pinheiro
Raia/Dubai
Follow me on
http://www.facebook.com/agnelo.pinheiro#!/group.php?gid=108515795850884
Please click the links below for the poster on mining in Goa:
http://maps4change.cis-india.org/images/f/fb/Goa_Mining_Belt.pdf
There is also reference to maps in this poster. The following are online
maps:
1. Goa Mining Belt
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=110567999679666203830.00047bde78a1fda435bd2&ll=15.593691,73.92314&spn=0.040426,0.077162&z=14
2. Panchwadi exclusive roads for mining through forest
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=110567999679666203830.000480916f4b62dbfae9a&ll=15.308857,74.067764&spn=0.081295,0.154324&z=13
3. Mining in catchment area of Selaulim dam in Sanguem
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&source=embed&msa=0&msid=110567999679666203830.00047df770931ddc0ac13&z=12
