Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira, while speaking to the media on Thursday, asked the State government and the Tourism Department to take urgent measures to address the decline in tourism, particularly in Calangute. He claims that the surge of low-budget tourists in Calangute has created numerous problems for this once preferred, world-famous destination, especially for foreign tourists, who simply refuse to visit this place anymore because Indian tourists irritate them by taking selfies with them and clicking their photos.
Well, I personally feel that the reason why low-budget tourists are seen flocking only to Calangute is that they know there is absolutely no discipline, and they can get away with almost anything there. For example, they can cook their own food in private fields/properties/near road-sides, indulge in street brawls, or create a ruckus or ‘hungamas’ in beach shacks, restaurants, or public places after consuming alcohol.
Secondly, they know they can also find many other things for their enjoyment during their stay in Calangute, such as the free availability of cheap alcohol every few metres, drugs, dance bars, controversial massage parlours, and even the availability of call girls/prostitutes at the press of a button online.
Sarpanch Sequeira should therefore advise the State government and the Tourism Department to take strong action against the above illegalities first. They should act decisively against all low-budget tourists who are publicly cooking, creating a nuisance everywhere after consuming alcohol, and those involved in the distribution/selling of drugs, running dance bars, or supplying call girls/prostitutes for tourists. Only then can they dream of reviving tourism in Calangute in the future.
