Blurb:
People do not visit a place based on the number of awards won, but awards are a factor for tourists who are in the process of taking a holiday decision
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It would never have happened in Goa. An 18-hole golf course near a heritage fort would, and still is unthinkable. It would have caused an uproar big and loud enough for the promoter to scoot from the state with bag and baggage. Hyderabad, however is different. The city founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah has its share of dissenters and naysayers, but despite opposition, a golf course was constructed besides the world-famous Golconda fort. From here the news just gets better. It won the national award for best tourism-friendly golf course 2013-14 and could earn the sobriquet of heritage golf course.
Why are we narrating a success story from Hyderabad here? Because it is a rare combination of the old and the modern. Because it won an award. Also, because Goa, being an international destination won just two awards -- best 2-star hotel and inbound tour operator earning foreign exchange. We could have done better. As a state, Goa lost out to Gujarat which won the first place followed by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Goa lost out on a lot of things -- civic management of tourism destination, heritage walk which went to Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi, best heritage city which was bagged by Gwalior in MP and best city or rural tourism project which was earned by Rann Utsav in Gujarat.
Tourism stakeholders are probably right when they say that Goa's appeal does not lie in awards. But the cliche that it is a world-recognised destination is a little worn out too. There are many places within India that could easily lay claim to that title. Goa has a lot of things going for it and the number of tourists is steadily growing. The proposed airport at Mopa and golf course at Tiracol could add greater value to it and take it on a new trajectory.
People do not visit a place based on the number of awards won, but awards are a factor for tourists who are in the process of taking a holiday decision. Awards that are focused force states, which haven't taken their positions in the market for granted, to compete on specific subjects and the end result is improvement in infrastructure, even if in a limited manner.
While Goa needs to introspect as to why it did not win more awards, it also must ascertain how Kerala got 10. Imagine what the tagline: winner of 10 national awards, would do to Kerala's bottom line. In 2014, the total impact of tourism in India was valued at $120 billion, which was 6.7 per cent of the GDP. In the same year it supported 36.7 million direct, indirect and induced jobs. With mining not likely to be the economic driver it once was, thanks to low international prices, the State will have to depend on tourism. To stay ahead of the curve, Goa needs to up its game, raise the profile of the State, increase the quantum of high-spenders and gradually move to the high end of the spectrum. For this to happen, world-class facilities have to be created. Thanks to awards, we now know that despite having a wealth of heritage we still do not have a heritage walk that tops the national list. The humbling aspect of awards is that it tells us where we stand and Goa must work harder along with stake holders to improve specific aspects of the tourism landscape. The Hyderabad golf course is indicative of which way the wind is blowing.
