While first-time MLAs have gone on an overdrive taking up various issues, the old-timers who are part of the BJP government too have not lagged behind in making new promises, some of which pale out against their track record as ministers in the past. New Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho has stated that his focus will be on environment-friendly industries and employment generation. The new TCP and Forest minister Vishwajit Rane has assured that he will resolve issues via transparency and even indicated that an email will be provided for people to post their grievances. The new Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has indicated a shift in approach to tourism with a focus on quality over quantity while also speaking about cultural and heritage tourism and hinterland tourism.
The exuberance shown by some ministers without even understanding their portfolios is baffling, especially when Goa has been grappling with these issues for years. The newfound confidence of ministers has no basis whatsoever and is against the grim ground realities that the State is facing. As an Industries Minister, the primary job should be to strive towards fast-tracking ease of doing business, because employment generation hinges on industries. However, successive ministers have failed to address the elephant in the room and remained content in dishing out only promises and deadlines.
The new tourism minister Khaunte speaks about quality tourism and discounts quantity tourism, against the reality that Goa’s tourism sector is currently being driven majorly by desi tourists and weekend tourism. Goa cannot afford to discourage local tourism at this stage and we must admit the fact that a paradigm shift in approach could be a long-term plan. We can’t have quick-fix solutions to turn fortunes on tourism. Yes, a roadmap is needed and infrastructure has to be ramped up, but are the policies and roadmaps helping Goa’s cause? Every tourism minister is having an individual perspective of tourism and an own roadmap that has left Goa with a hole in its treasury.
Successive tourism ministers have failed to give concrete direction to tourism and Goa ended up paying dearly for roadmaps, roadshows, foreign jaunts, study tours, consultants and holidays of tourism ministers.
Goa has been now hearing of heritage and cultural tourism and hinterland tourism, but nothing has moved in that direction for the last couple of years and we wonder how many decades and how much money would finally take us there. Moreover, Khaunte’s track record has not been impressive as an IT minister and a Labour and Employment minister in the Manohar Parrikar cabinet. We have an IT policy that is largely on paper, and joblessness continues to be one of the most pressing issues for more than two decades.
Unleashing plans without taking a firm grip on the subject is an empty gesture of enthusiasm that is intended for sheer optics and headline-grabbing. Changing a minister alone will not help change the face of Goa’s tourism, a lot needs to come with it, including the will and intent. Let’s not be swayed by this false reality of a complete makeover being given to Goa’s tourism.
