The discord between the water sports operators at Cavelossim and the Tourism Department could hurt beach tourism since the single window counter system through Goa Electronic Ltd has brought water sports activity in the area to a halt. In retaliation, the Cavelossim-based operators have grounded their boats and equipment and refused to come under the management of GEL.
Roping in GEL at Cavelossim has come as a surprise because there was consistent opposition from operators, to the extent that even operators from other areas began to feel the heat. Ironically, despite the opposition even at an earlier meeting, the tourism department went ahead with its plan after deploying a strong police force on site. The contention was not about the queue system mandated by the High Court but the decision to bring in GEL as an authority to manage the system.
Bulldozing through traditional businesses like water sports which are mainly run by local fishermen, does not bode well for the State. If the government plans to streamline unorganised tourism-related activities, then it cannot keep the stakeholders out and take unilateral decisions. The local operators have been in business for decades and are solely responsible for making it a tourist attraction. They have invested in boats, equipment, and energy to keep the tourists entertained. In the name of streamlining, one cannot bulldoze over them and upset their applecart. Dictatorial approaches such as these will kill Goenkarponn in one stroke.
With the introduction of GEL, the operators lose complete control over the water sports activity, including the pricing, timing and everything else. They have no say in an area which was their domain for decades, and hand-picking Cavelossim for this experiment gives the issue a different hue.
Water sports activity has grown exponentially over the years, with operators at prominent beach belts like Cavelossim, Colva, Benaulim, Bogmalo, Calangute, Baga, Vagator and others offering an array of rides including windsurfing, speed boating, jet skiing, scuba diving and snorkelling, banana tube boat ride, kayaking, river rafting and dinghy sailing. These have become major attractions offering tourists more zing than just a glimpse of the sea and sand.
Policy decisions that are going to change the dynamics of any activity need to be discussed threadbare with the stakeholders. Such high-handedness will only result in resentment and opposition and hurt everyone in the process. Nobody gains if the operators anchor their boats the way they have been doing for the past few days. Tourists who are mainly enjoying these rides are denied their share of fun and have to return disappointed.
It is a lose-lose situation for the department, operators and Goa’s tourism. Let’s not forget that such decisions could have a ripple effect on others in the business, and the State’s tourism could take another unsavoury turn.
Experimenting with systems during peak tourism season is nonetheless a terrible idea. We hope better sense prevails.
