PANAJI
The Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT), an initiative of the Caritas -Goa and Council for Social Justice and Peace, has called for a reflection on “Rural and Community-Centric Tourism”, in the context of the global theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
In a statement on the occasion of World Tourism Day September 27, CRT Executive Secretary Fr Malcolm Colaco stated that tourism in Goa stands at an important crossroads.
“While tourism continues to provide employment and livelihoods, its growth has also brought challenges such as congestion, waste, pressure on natural resources, over-dependence on a few popular destinations and the gradual marginalisation of local communities and traditional livelihoods,” said Fr Colaco.
“The question is therefore not merely how to attract more tourists, but how tourism can benefit Goa’s people while protecting our environment, culture and identity.”
Stating that villages offer immense possibilities for another kind of tourism, Fr Colaco said heritage homes, traditional cuisine, agriculture, paddy fields, fishing communities, crafts, festivals, local occupations, religious heritage, rivers and wetlands can provide visitors with meaningful experiences beyond the conventional tourist circuit.
“Rural and community-centric tourism can create opportunities for farmers, artisans, women, youth, local entrepreneurs and community organisations, while enabling tourism revenue to remain within local communities,” he said.
He highlighted that the digital agenda and Artificial Intelligence can become important enablers in this initiative.
“Travellers increasingly use digital platforms and AI to discover destinations, plan journeys, receive personalised recommendations, translate languages and create itineraries. Our villages and local enterprises, therefore, need a digital presence that allows these experiences to be discovered in AI-driven travel ecosystems,” said Fr Colaco.
He, however emphasised that digital visibility must not become an invitation to uncontrolled mass tourism and added that technology should serve communities rather than overwhelm them.
“The government should actively consult and listen to local stakeholders while formulating and reviewing tourism policies. The CRT demands that governments and tourism corporations immediately cease imposing tourism policies and processes and tourism developments that violate the rights and interests of the local community,” said Fr Colaco.
“It is significant to recognise that citizens are not merely observers of tourism; they are custodians of the places and traditions that visitors come to experience.”
“This World Tourism Day, let us therefore ask: Can we use the power of AI and digital technology to make the soul of rural Goa more visible, while ensuring that its communities remain at the heart of tourism? Let technology connect travellers with Goa but let communities shape the Goa they discover,” he added.
