FRANKLY FRANK: Rethinking Goa's tourism metrics for good

It goes without saying that Goa has long been known for its beaches and many of us, in Goa, are tired of hearing this being repeated. For decades, the Tourism Department has been projecting the State’s golden sands, turquoise waters and sun-soaked coastline to increase the tourist numbers. 

Despite the bad publicity Goa has recently received for its tourism and the debate of it dying, a top national daily reported that the situation wasn’t as it was made out to be, but rightly pointed out that tourism in Goa was changing. 

The numbers may have been there, but who made up these numbers is something to look at and analyse very closely. So, if we had the numbers, do we really have to be proud of tourists who came in jeeps and mini-buses and did not contribute much to the State's economy?

There certainly is no mechanism to stop these tourists from entering. And we can't, in a diverse country like ours. That being so, how do we cater to these tourists, who are not very big spenders? Another question is, can Goa as a tourism destination, realistically keep the spenders and non-spenders apart?

Should we truly celebrate a surge in mass tourism that may not necessarily benefit the local community or environment, when in reality we could be working on more sustainable and meaningful forms of travel? This is the main question that we need to ponder upon.

Goa has a wide appeal for tourists and it has something to offer for everyone. However, the problem arises when the big numbers, including the ones who spend very little, start placing unsustainable pressure on the State’s resources and infrastructure. 

The low-spending tourists may not contribute much to the high-end establishments, but they still place demands on the local services. In this scenario, the tourism authorities will need a new strategy to cater to two sets of tourists.

This new strategy could incorporate a more targeted approach to tourism because not all tourists are the same and a one-size-fits-all measure will not work. The spending tourists could be weaned away to lesser-known places where they can soak in experiential tourism.

There is no single solution to the tourism dilemma Goa is facing. If it doesn't want to discourage mass tourism or riff-raff tourism, then it will have to evolve accordingly to deal with this scourge. Also, it should not take this as criticism, but rather as a call for introspection and action. 

One of the approaches it could adopt is creating zoning laws to manage overcrowding in tourist hotspots. It is inevitable that such a measure will invite criticism, but if the government shows its firm resolve, it will have the support of the local community and like-minded tourism stakeholders.

If the government tries to work on this approach single-handedly, chances are it may not see any success. The best thing to do would be to work with the tourism stakeholders like shack owners, hotel operators, boat operators, local communities and tourists themselves.

Also, the local communities must accept the reality of mass tourism rather than feeling threatened by tourists. By working with the tourists, these communities and tourism companies have ample scope for promoting Goa’s culture, heritage, history and tradition. It all depends on how we perceive the current trends of tourism.

In the end, the government can support tourism growth by implementing its tourism policies by adopting a more practical and hands-on approach to dealing with tourism travails and not hiding behind a veil of secrecy and avoiding public scrutiny.