MARGAO
Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Purifiacao Fernandes on Saturday stressed on the importance of responsible tourism, focussing on the Jubilee theme of HOPE “ Hospitality, Opportunities, Preservation and Encounter.
In his homily at the Concelebrated Mass celebrated at the Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim on the occasion of World Tourism Day 2025 organized by the Centre for Responsible Tourism, with the theme- Tourism and Sustainable Transformation, he highlighted the present reality of tourism and urged the congregation for adoption of corrective measures.
The theme taken for the Holy mass was ‘Tourism- Our Livelihood, Let’s March Forward Responsibly with Steps of Hope’. Stakeholders of tourism and parishioners participated in the Eucharistic celebration.
He reminded the faithful of the richness of Goan culture, heritage, and natural beauty that must be safeguarded for generations to come.
The highlight of the programme was the panel of three eminent speakers who shed light on the tourism in the state. In his address, Fr. Savio Fernandes, Assistant Director of Caritas and Executive Secretary of the Centre for Social Justice and Peace, emphasized the role of the Church in ensuring humanitarian and responsible tourism that upholds the dignity of every person.
Sabina Martins, a well-known social activist, spoke on the realities and challenges of tourism in Goa, highlighting issues such as women and child safety, cultural commercialization, land grabbing, unemployment, trafficking, substance abuse, and the need for greater involvement of locals in governance and planning.
Former bureaucrat and social thinker Elvis Gomes concluded with an insightful session on the Way Forward. He stressed on unity among communities, knowledge-sharing, and widening Goa’s vision for sustainable tourism, while addressing the underlying concerns of corruption and community participation.
In a very interactive discussion that followed after the talks, a way forward was proposed for CRT to be a rallying point to facilitate conversations on issues faced by the stakeholders and local communities. Furthermore, these issues are to be presented to the government for effective and lasting solutions.
