MAPUSA
It was yesterday once more at beaches across the State.
Domestic tourists with beer bottles in hand were roaming freely on streets and on the beaches swinging to the music beats belted by the shacks and hotels on the New Year’s Eve, as it was virtually free for all.
Along the Calangute-Baga beach belt, a sea of humanity choked all major roads on the beach side making it difficult to traverse on these roads on December 31.
Several fist-fights between groups of tourists were also reported from the beachside.
As it happens every year, the New Year’s Eve party spilled in the open and converted the entire beach belt into one big garbage dump.
Garbage of all kinds and in every shape and size “ empty and broken beer bottles, plastic bottles, food plates and tetra packs “ were found strewn all over the beach early next morning of the New Year giving the entire area a shabby look.
But discarded waste was not the only black spot on the beach side, desi tourists apparently sozzled from the overnight partying were found lounging on the beach till as late as 11 am on the New Year’s Day.
The world-famous Colva beach resembled a make shift bar with beer and booze flowing.
Overnight New Year celebrations continued on Sunday as well as groups of domestic tourists gulped beer and booze as if the government has given exemption to public drinking on the beach.
One could find the visitors descending on the beach with booze and snacks and enjoying the New Year festivities without fear of the law in force. Colva beach was littered with empty bottles.
Similar scenes were witnessed along the Canacona coastal belt and other beaches including Miramar, Morjim.
Expressing disgust at the flow of the cheap and unruly tourists in the State, President of Calangute Constituency Forum and resident of the beach village, Premanand Diukar said this kind of tourists come with a mindset that anything is tolerated in Goa.
“Unless the department of tourism starts promoting quality tourists, this kind of thing will keep happening in Goa. The authorities should impose stiff fines on tourists who litter, drink on the beach and cause nuisance when they come for a holiday. We must pass a message that such things will not be tolerated anymore,” Diukar said.
Obviously, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte’s appeal to tourists to behave responsibly and keep Goa clean has apparently fallen on deaf ears.
The unruly desi tourists converted the beach side into one big urinal.
The Secretary of Goa Shack Owners' Association, John Lobo said Calangute-Baga belt witnessed a huge inflow of “cheap” and “thrash” crowd on the eve of the New Year who have absolutely no sense of hygiene.
“Last night a tourist was easing himself right near my counter. When I protested he lamely said I got the urge and can’t help it. I don’t think anyone can control such a crowd, not even the army,” Lobo rued.
According to President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Nilesh Shah, everyone wants to party in Goa because the coastal state is considered a safe destination.
He admitted that on December 31 there is always a surge of tourists in the coastal state but these visitors just come for one day and go back to their place the next day.
“It’s a huge crowd and possibly difficult to manage. Education and awareness is the key to make this type of people understand the ethos of the place,” Shah said.
He said installation of proper signages and issuing of fines could also go a long way to restore some sanity among such tourists.
