The Western Indian state of Goa, being a kaleidoscopic blend of Indian and Portuguese cultures, with its stunning beaches and world famous seafoods, perhaps is one of the highest-income states of the country. Undoubtedly as its only backbone, tourism serves the purpose for the state at its best. But, those who are associated with the sector are not very happy with the state’s tourism industry as it lacks any clear-cut policy regarding tourism.
Popularly known as ‘the pearl of the east’, Goa is definitely the best tourist place for India. Though sounds incredible, it has got some globally famous restaurants with fans including Clintons, the Bachchans and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
One of such restaurants – Martin’s Corner’s propreitor Bonny Pereira is concerned that the government doesn’t have a concrete policy for the future. Handling this 30-year-old business successfully he asks, “We are not thinking about the next decade. We call Goa is a tourism destination, but what is our plan? Where is the policy?”
In last November the state government had, a draft on Tourism Policy and Masterplan drafted by KPMG Advisory Services and Tourism and Leisure Advisory Services and made it public for comments. But stakeholders couldn’t accept it as it had
little in it for small-scale restauranteurs and businesses while huge private players were likely to be benefited by the plan and they complained that it was drafted by experts without consulting locals.
This ‘25-year-vision plan’ cost the Goan government Rs 5 crore, only to be termed as a waste of public money, by some activists.
Emphasizing on the fact that the state needs a distinct tourism policy in accordance to its unique culture, Pereira says, “We are still implementing Acts from other states. We need to draw up a statutory law based tourism in our state. We have a different kind of tourist and for that we need to think differently. Goa’s current plan is only focused on casinos.”
The restaurant owners in the southern belt of the state have agreed with Pereira’s view-point as they choose to keep their tourism offerings different from that in the north which is a nightclub focused model only.
One of the beach owners of Goa, Thomas Fernandes believes on building supporting infrastructure to ensure a stable flow of tourists and says, “Which beach in Goa has a dedicated parking zone? Where in Goa do we have amusement parks for children? We need to think ahead and plan. If we want tourism to continue in the state, the government has to be focused on ‘clean tourism’ and not on any haphazard development. Why will tourists come back if you don’t respect there needs ?”
With this same view point, Matthew Diniz, who runs Kentuckee restaurant on Colva beach, is of the opinion that Goan tourism plans seem to be hundred years backward than that of the destinations in Europe. The later has got a planned tourism that business and the tourist. So to be balanced with them India should add and amend its tourism policies.
Apart from these things, the imposed Model Code of Conduct (MCC) rules that restaurants in the state have to shut by 11 pm and cannot serve alcohol post 10 pm., in the state is also affecting the business. Decision regarding this will come after the state election.
Goa’s tourism industry contributes about 40 per cent to the state’s GDP and has been the focus now since the mining in the state has been banned for more than a year.
