Tourism policy exhibits bankruptcy in thought: Church body slams govt

THE GOAN NETWORK | NOVEMBER 28, 2020, 12:51 AM IST

PANAJI
Denouncing the Goa Tourism Policy 2020 as a mirage which will not benefit the State and its people, the church body Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT) has slammed the State government’s tourism policy as an attempt to corporatise and privatise public resources.

In a strongly worded response to the Goa Tourism Policy 2020, a statement released by CRT Executive Secretary Fr Freddy Braganca said the much-awaited tourism policy notified by the State government had displayed “complete disconnect and ignorance about the present status of tourism in the State and challenges faced by stakeholders and local communities involved in tourism-related activities.”

“The stated vision statement of having ‘high-spending tourists around the year’ exhibits the bankruptcy in thought. One wonders what is the concept and quantification of a high spender. The vision needs to envisage a just and equitable tourism with ‘people’ as the focus.”

“In the absence of a comprehensive development programme for people, serious issues of environmental degradation, violation of Coastal Zone regulations, sex tourism, easy availability of narcotics, child labour, child and women trafficking, alienation of communities from their lands have not been addressed,” stated the CRT.

The CRT claimed the policy lacked basic empirical data on tourism in the State and was devoid of necessary realistic statistics of foreign and domestic tourists who visit the State.

“Furthermore, the policy fails to reflect revenue generated and how much revenue is re-invested in the State.”

“This policy conceals more than it reveals and is the State government’s attempt only to constitute another instrument, Goa Tourism Board (GTB) and diversion of taxpayers’ money to it through the Goa Tourism Development Fund. It is also an attempt by the State government to corporatise and privatise public resources,” said the CRT.

The CRT added that the policy makes the GTB eligible to receive grant-in-aid, source funds from any State and Central government schemes, thus depriving stakeholders/citizens who are entitled to these schemes.

“Besides, the policy allows the GTB domestic and external borrowings. Regular borrowing has become a policy of the State government and borrowings of GTB will further add to the per capita debt burden on the citizens of Goa.”

“The cornerstone principles of sustainability, uniquely Goan, safety, ease of mobility, global visibility, authenticity and diversity in this policy are empty words and a cover-up...through the formation of the Goa Tourism Board.”

The CRT said there is nothing new in the policy except a repetition of activities presently undertaken on the coastal belt.

“The policy also fails to ascertain the carrying capacity of the State vis-a-vis its infrastructure and natural resources as mandated by the National Green Tribunal.”

“Proposals under leisure and entertainment section envisages displacing locals to bring in international brands and investors, golf courses, destruction of the coastline by concretising the waterfront by setting up small jetties and marinas, relocation of the casinos and creating international class gaming cluster (offshore and onshore),” said the CRT.

“Unless all issues are addressed there is no way quality tourism will grow in Goa, despite the Master Plan and the Goa Tourism Policy. The Goa Tourism Policy is a mirage which will not benefit Goa and its people,” concluded the CRT.

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