PANAJI
Fights involving bouncers and tourists have become common in the state, especially in restaurants and pubs. The Goan spoke to club and restaurant owners about their security policies, especially after the Calangute Tito Lane incident.
One popular restaurant owner from Siolim said, "We have hundreds of guests daily, both new and returning. We ensure our restaurant is friendly to everyone. Occasionally, tourists may get drunk and argue, but we handle these situations calmly and positively, ensuring we don’t take the law into our own hands. If issues arise, we resolve them quickly without causing trouble for other guests or the community.'
Another club owner from Assagao emphasized that they do not tolerate any disturbances. 'If something happens, it should be resolved outside the venue. We want everyone to enjoy their time in Goa. We handle situations calmly and follow our security protocols strictly. If there’s an issue, we inform the police immediately to keep the environment safe for everyone.'
A manager of a club from Tito’s Lane stated, 'The recent altercation was unacceptable, but it has been resolved. We make sure such situations don’t happen at our club. We recently met with police officials to discuss how we can work together to maintain peace. We believe in treating our guests with respect, following the principle of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' “ 'our guest is God.'
A restaurant owner from Anjuna added, 'While we strive to maintain peace and respect for our guests, tourists also need to behave appropriately and treat our staff with respect. Our security staff is well-trained, and while they might get frustrated with disrespect, we ensure things never escalate. We prioritize politeness and aim to keep a peaceful environment."
A club owner from Candolim said, "Nobody understands, nobody listens. Post-Covid, everyone wants to dive into the tourism business in Goa, but no one wants to invest in maintaining the dignity of this land. Everything has a price, and the 'sab kuch chalta hai' attitude is rampant. Sewage can flow into the Arabian Sea, and everyone just thinks, 'This is business as usual.' The most important monitors of vigilance are corrupt. It's all about throwing money around and selling Goa."
