Goa tourism industry continues to negotiate the tides of uncertainty, and as another season unfolds, it appears lessons from past failures haven’t been learnt, and the failure to streamline and regulate tourism-related activities is as clear as daylight. Cracking down on illegal water sports ticket sales, as announced by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, may be a positive step, but there is a lot of ground still to be covered.
While providing tourists with a consistent and regulated experience is important, ensuring their safety is paramount and remains the bounden duty of stakeholders, and this is where the credibility of any destination lies. Two recent incidents expose the fact that our safety protocols and oversight mechanisms are miserably falling short. In one case, 42 individuals—38 tourists and four crew members on a cruise boat were stranded among rocks off Aguada Bay amid rough seas, only to be rescued by lifesavers.
The fact that the cruise boat was stranded amid turbulent waters vividly illustrates the perils of water sports conducted without due regard for weather conditions and the risks of undertaking cruises in inclement weather. Goa has been experiencing inconsistent weather, including thunderstorms, in the past few days. The IMD’s alert should have served as a warning to operators against venturing out. Does the department leave it to the wisdom of cruise operators to make a choice?
In the second incident, a viral video showing a parasailing parachute entangled on a coconut tree top at Varca beach again raises serious questions. The operator reportedly states that it was a trial run conducted without tourists on board. The attempt itself raises questions on whether this parachute test was undertaken by authorised or licensed personnel, and if such trials were approved, since there was an inherent risk to those on the beach.
There is no denying that the water sports and cruise operators are being carried away by the tourism season and the influx of visitors and prioritizing business over safety. In both cases, negligence could have had catastrophic consequences, not only jeopardising lives but also tarnishing Goa’s image globally, especially when there is so much bad publicity that the State is getting on the tourism front.
The Tourism Minister’s commitment to investigating these lapses and issuing show-cause notices may be a step in the right direction, but there is an urgent need to install an oversight mechanism on the ground. Illegalities in tourism-related business must be nipped in the bud. Enforcement must go beyond notices and casual punitive
measures. There is a need to immediately suspend licenses and bar those flouting rules and regulations for the season, because, unless there are strong deterrents set, the tourism canvas will be full of chaos. We need to look beyond the illegal sale of water sports tickets; there is much happening that authorities are failing to take cognizance of.
The fluctuating tourist inflow makes it imperative for Goa to establish a resilient regulatory framework. Goa has its selling points with the holiday vibe and hospitality at its core, but we should not make a mess out of it by letting loose and allowing stakeholders a free run. In the current scenario, there is a huge temptation to make a fast buck, and everything else becomes secondary. Goa’s allure as a tourist destination must be underpinned by safety, responsibility, and stringent regulation.
