The tourism bubble in Goa has burst There is no adequate infrastructure of sewerage and waste disposal, potable water and other essential services to attend the surge of gambling and tourism in Goa. The natives are shunted aside for the profit of foreigners. Tuesday, March 25, 2008
By Averthanus D'Souza The tourism bubble in Goa has finally burst, and we are all responsible for it. Tourism grew quite naturally because of the benevolence of Nature which provided this beautiful land with strikingly beautiful landscapes, tropical waters of the Arabian Sea, the undulating hills and forests and the peaceful flow of waters of the two main rivers as well as their tributaries. The hospitability and warmth of the citizens was a notable further attraction to tourists. It must be remembered that this growth of tourism was gradual, organic and unorganized. Then the Government (read politicians) took over and attempted to "promote" Goa as a tourist destination. Ministers and their bureaucratic entourages as well as their political hangers-on made it a point to attend "Tourism Marts" all over the world – at public cost, it must be remembered. It mattered nothing to them that the infrastructure of roads, water-supply system, sewerage system, municipal waste disposal, and other essential services did not exist to service the large influx of tourists who were being invited. This was a lop-sided promotion which was driven only by the greed for money which suddenly seemed to be available easily. Concurrently with the blinkered actions of the Government, the people smelled ways to make more easy money. Taxi drivers demanded totally unreasonable and extortionist fares from tourists; touts charged exorbitant commissions to lead tourists to cheap rooming houses; pimps proliferated with the possibility of promoting prostitution – including minor children. Goa soon earned the notoriety of being the world's most paedophile friendly tourist destination. The tourism industry soon spun completely out of control. With everyone wanting a share of the profits and no one willing to preserve the physical, environmental, social and cultural heritage of Goa, this beautiful land soon became a place that was "up for grabs" for anyone who had the right connections, and who knew how to pull the bureaucratic ropes. A parallel "tourist economy" was generated, which was outside the control of the Government. Rave parties, all-night dances with loud music, alcohol and drugs, beach shacks, shady drug joints and a network of goons and pimps soon found a thriving economy to which they had easy access. The so-called "Tourism Economy" of Goa soon attracted "investors" from abroad. The Russians colonized huge tracts of beaches. They even had the audacity to keep the locals off "their" beaches. They employed bouncers (strongmen) to throw out any Goan who was foolhardy enough to park on a "Russian" patch of beach. They even hoisted their own flags on their establishments. The Israelis carved out for themselves Special Exploitation Zones (SEZs) and were soon followed by Kenyans, Nigerians and other African "entrepreneurs" who were drawn by the "open" economy of Goa. The local Goans got the crumbs which fell from the tables of these colonizers: menial jobs, messengers, drug pushers, pimps to find prostitutes for the affluent tourists, taxi drivers and others. The Government of Goa was not to be done out of its share of the profits. Licences to set up beach shacks, to provide beach umbrellas and beach beds were seen as a source of "income." But the provision of hard liquour was even more lucrative – so the Government provided bar licences, even for the asking. There were no norms to guide the giving of licences. Money changed hands under the table. Another "profitable" source of revenue for the Government turned out to be gambling. Very attractive inducements were offered to the Government. Big international "Gambling Moghuls" with unrestricted ambitions successfully cajoled the Goa Government into granting them licences to operate so-called "off shore" gambling casinos. Gambling is forbidden by Law in Goa. Of course, like most such legislation there are gaping loopholes which are quite easily exploited by clever operators. The term "off-shore" is not defined in the Act, so floating casinos which are just inches off the pier can be safely construed to be "off-shore" and they can be operated without technically breaching the Law. Having convinced the Government that they do not violate the law, they then "bribe" the Government with huge "fees" to get operation licences. Newspaper reports inform us that these floating casinos have offered to pay licence fees of Rupees Five Crore each annually to the Government. Originally, the Government had publicly stated that it would allow only one "off-shore" casino to operate; later this was increased to two casinos (presumably to encourage competition, and prevent monopolization of gambling); now we learn that the Government proposes to licence six "off-shore" gambling casinos. There are ten others waiting in queue for licences. sponsored by Sponsored by ClearKitchen.com -- new products for cooking and entertaining. Related Articles Global Prominent convert asks converts to stand up Magdi Allam, a prominent Italian Muslim who was received into Christianity, called on other former Muslims to come out and asked the Church to be more diligent with converting Muslims. The subject of death threats, he has an Italian security detail. Middle East Jerusalem patriarch gives last Easter address The now-retired Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah referred to killings at a Jewish seminary and Israeli incursions into Palestine as a "chain of inhumane and futile violence". Full text of address. What is so terribly disconcerting and actually horrifying to the citizens of Goa is the fact that a Government, which should be above the petty manipulations of shady businesses is actually behaving like a client of the gambling syndicates. It has approved the operation of six floating casinos merely because this brings in revenue of Rupees 30 Crore annually. If this crazy argument is followed to its logical conclusion, the Government should licence many more "off-shore" casinos and abolish all taxes on the citizens because it will have ensured income sufficient to meet its expected expenditures. Nay, it can make gambling a very profitable business – based on the principle of "Public-Private Partnership" (PPP) of which our Chief Minister seems to be enamoured. The State of Goa can become (once again) the Number One State in India which derives its revenue solely from dispensing gambling licences. During the build-up to the IFFI, our politicians (of the India Shining variety) showed a lot of enthusiasm for making Goa the Cannes of Asia. Now the "aam admi" Government seems to be vying to make Goa the Monte Carlo of India or the Las Vegas of the East. A Government of the people, by the people and for the people does not exist to promote gambling as a source of revenue, or promote alcoholism as a means to attract tourists. Government exists to ensure the welfare of its citizens; to promote social justice and to take care of those who are in special need, such as the disabled, the socially marginalized, the politically unrepresented and the weakest citizens. Alas, our Governments (of whatever political convictions) have become the allies of questionable Big Businesses instead of the guardians of the poor and the enfeebled. The "aam admi" slogan is a mere camouflage to cover up the behind-the-scenes acquisition of personal wealth and power for the jackals who form the governing councils of the State. How else can one explain the plotting and scheming that goes on for getting a Cabinet position in the Government? Or again, how does one explain the fact that successive Ministers, in spite of their loud public protestations, have not been able to remove the River Princess which is grounded off the Sinquerim beach now for more than six years? Averthanus L. D'Souza writes for CBCI News and appears here with permission. http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=14854&t=The+tourism+bubble+in+Goa+has+burst