The advisory reissued by the Tourism Department on Friday is a crisp dossier of dos and don’ts for visitors and makes for interesting reading, both from the perspectives of tourists and locals.
The tourists are cautioned against hiring private vehicles or vehicles that do not have valid permits from the Transport Department. While the burning taxi issue remains unresolved, the advisory explicitly tells the tourists not to hire private taxis but insist on metered fares to avoid overcharging. On another point, tourists are advised to book accommodation with hotels, villas, or residences registered with the Department of Tourism.
Another notable point in the list is about respecting the privacy of others and advising visitors not to take selfies and photographs of other tourists and strangers on the beach while sunbathing or swimming. Also, there is a directive not to engage illegal touts for water sports activities and cruises but must insist on Goa Tourism-recognised travel agents.
The fine-tuned advisory spells out the rules of the land while also revealing the extent of illegality in tourism. From the taxi at the airport to the beach and the water sports, there is a lot to watch out for, leaving the tourist perplexed and wary of being cheated.
The point is that a lot needs to be done to clear the illegalities muddling tourism. First, the visitor must be provided clarity for making choices. For example, insisting on metered fares could be a good idea, but this also tells us that there is a lot of non-metered business happening that is out of control.
Another point is on booking registered accommodation. The flip side of this story is that umpteen private residences offering tourist accommodation have gone unchecked. The government machinery has failed to crack down on such illegal operations, leaving unnecessary confusion in this area too. Despite the restrictions, we still see hawkers, touts, and beggars strolling the beaches.
Issuing advisory is a good practice, provided directives are pursued rigorously rather than a formality. There has to be large-scale awareness. The Tourism Department must reach every tourist and hence has to be flashed across all entry points besides popular destinations in the State. While tourists, both desi and foreigners, are clueless about the laws of the land, they are seen driving their vehicles on the beaches, drinking on the beaches, cooking in the open or changing clothes too. When a certain level of discipline is being enforced, which is in a marked departure from commonly followed practice, there has to be a high level of awareness. And awareness has to be followed by a crackdown.
Issuing advisories could be a good beginning, but it’s time the tourism department starts introspecting on the impact of these directives. There are certainly some positives in what is put on paper, but the Department must clear a lot of mess seen on the ground if tourism has to move to the next level.
