MAPUSA
Taking strong exception over the mess created on beaches by unruly domestic tourists on the New Year’s Eve, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte envisaged strong changes in the policy and pitched for good tourists to come to Goa.
Khaunte on Monday also took a swipe at the Goa Police saying other stakeholders should take equal responsibility to ensure good and responsible tourism flourishes in the State.
“I absolutely condemn this type of people who come here to destroy Goa for what it is known for. We welcome people to the beach to enjoy. But the way they have spoiled the beach it shows how much love they have for Goa. We need to bring strong changes in (tourism) policy to ensure that good tourists come to Goa,” Khaunte said.
The domestic tourists, who descended in thousands in the State on the eve of the New Year, left a messy trail along the popular Calangute-Baga beach, leaving heaps of garbage including broken beer bottles and plastic waste on the beachfront.
Some unruly tourists roamed carefree on streets drinking from liquor bottles while others slept on the beach till late the next day while authorities, especially the police, were left helpless as they were outnumbered by the sheer size of the tourist flow.
According to the Tourism Minister, his stress on safe and clean beaches and integrated beach management were plans to ensure that all stakeholders work in tandem to bring a change for good in the tourism sector.
“We need to ensure that we get good tourists. As long as we don’t get good facilities, good tourists will not come. The way things have happened in Calangute and other areas, I don’t think this reflects of quality... Our beach cleaning agency had to do double work to clean up the mess left behind...,” he said.
He further disclosed that quality tourists were staying aloof because they don’t like things happening in Goa.
“We need tourists who behave and are concerned about the environment. We need people who spend and support the economy and with that intention we need to improve our facilities,” he said.
Khaunte also questioned the lackadaisical approach of the police in taking action against illegal tourism activities despite the Tourism Department writing to them.
Pointing to the unfortunate death of a tourist on the Baina beach, he said the area on Baina beach is not a notified area and the department of tourism had written to police to stop the illegal water sports activity in the area.
“We had told the police to stop these activities. The police are expected to act immediately on this type of thing. I have asked for a report from the police on the death of the tourist,” he said.
