FRANKLY FRANK: ‘Anything goes in Goa’ attitude must end

The tragic paragliding incident at Keri-Pernem, in which two people lost their lives, occurred just when Goa’s Tourism Minister had set out to streamline the State’s tourism sector in the wake of the social media backlash and bad publicity.

This untimely accident has cast a shadow over his efforts, highlighting the urgent need for safety measures and stricter controls across all adventure activities in the State.

While the minister’s good intentions may have been to restore order, the paragliding tragedy reveals how far Goa’s tourism has moved away from its old ideals, exposing systemic flaws within that cannot be ignored.

This incident also calls upon all to course correct and to bear in mind that bringing about meaningful changes will require them to look beyond policy frameworks and call for an overhaul of practices that put people’s lives at risk.

In the wake of this accident, the Tourism Minister and his department’s job to reform the sector have become more critical, and both will have to answer several questions about the illegal operation of the activity in Pernem.

The government cannot absolve itself of its responsibility by merely arresting the business owner. That’s the easy route. The arrest will not in any way address the deeper, more systemic issues that led to this tragic event.

The first question that comes to mind is how such an illegal activity, literally happening in broad daylight and under clear skies, went unchecked. The answer is, those in positions of power very conveniently looked the other way. Or will someone say 'no, that was not the case?'

An investigation must delve into the potential corruption and negligence within the various levels of governance, or else mere talk of streamlining the sector will be taken with a pinch of salt. Just token actions won’t do because lives were lost.

The tragic paragliding incident and the Calangute boat tragedy, in which one tourist lost his life, should serve as eye-openers to bring about change within the tourism sector. 

This is the right time to take a firm stand and a hard look at all the tourism-related activities across the State by conducting thorough checks of operations to weed out illegalities, unsafe practices and unregulated businesses. 

When it is time for action, the authorities must not buckle down and proffer excuses saying their actions will upset the tourism industry. This is a mistaken belief and one which is doled out every time such an opportunity arises.

The reality is that tourists, both domestic and international, come to Goa with high expectations, which means they look forward to good experiences to take back home.

If anything, cleaning up the industry by eliminating corrupt or unsafe operations will allow them to have a smooth ride in Goa and raise the value of our tourism.

The moment of truth is here. More than anything, it is time for honesty and transparency at all levels. No one should be above the law and scrutiny, and there must be no room for bias when it comes to putting things in order.

Also, it is time for genuine and sincere leadership to shine through when Goa tourism needs these attributes the most. It’s time to look at the long-term benefits that will accrue for the sector from the uncompromising steps for a safe industry.

This shouldn’t be about responding to a tragedy, but about preventing future ones to ensure travellers coming here for a dose of adventure enjoy the same without fearing for their safety.

Or else, Goa will continue to be caught in the same cycle of complacency where nothing ever changes. And, the only people Goa will see crossing its borders will be those who come with the mindset, ‘Goa mein kuch bhi chalta hai (anything goes in Goa)’.