Goa, once called the Pearl of Orient, was one of the top tourist destinations for foreigners in the 60s and 70s. They thronged Goa’s pristine beaches and the State had a glimpse of hippie and bikini culture. Semi-nude foreigners basking themselves in sea, sand and surf on popular beaches like Colva, Benaulim and Calangute made headlines across the nation and Goa was billed as ‘tourist paradise’.
Over the years, as foreigners poured in, narcotics raised its ugly head along the beach belts and the State slowly became famous for wrong reasons. There were freely available drugs and there was free flow of booze like always. Rave parties soon made their presence and so did the casinos. Goa became one crazy party destination.
However, the fizz appears to be dying down in recent years. The 40 per cent drop in tourist this year should be a major cause for concern. While it was party time on New Year’s eve with a sea of desi tourists making merry, the overall picture appeared grim. High-spending foreign tourists that flooded beach destinations like Anjuna and Baga have become rare and desi tourists have taken over. The who’s who of Bollywood and the celebrity world have gone amiss. Hotel occupancy is not very encouraging and has witnessed a nearly 30 per cent drop during the festive season.
Is it because of the influx of domestic tourists and the crowded atmosphere that has driven away the foreign tourists? Or is it the unhygienic surroundings with piles of garbage stacked at every nook and corner becoming an eyesore for the visitors? Or is it the lack of EDMs that was a crowd-puller from across India and abroad? Or is it the ongoing road works that has become a pain for free movement of tourists? Or is Goa is losing its charm as a favourite holiday destination?
With mining failing to resume once again, tourism has become the mainstay of Goa’s economy. A 40 per cent drop in tourists is catastrophic and would cripple allied businesses associated with the industry, including taxi services. This needs serious introspection and government should open up discussions with all stakeholders. The foreign jaunts and road shows by the tourism minister Babu Ajgaonkar and others are not paying dividends.
There is an urgent need for reforms. A complete makeover is required. We need to look beyond what is on the menu. The beaches are crowded and garbage-littered, and not all tourists will fall for free flow of booze and the casino culture that Goa has on offer. The State has to have a varied mix of infrastructure to keep tourists engaged for a longer holiday. Competing States are showing their culture, heritage, monuments, theme parks, backwater, malls and shopping centres, eco-tourism including wildlife sanctuaries, and a friendly and happening environment. Goa falls way short on any of these facilities. It is against this backdrop that it would be very difficult to reverse this trend of losing tourists in successive years. It’s time government wakes up and smells the coffee.
