The hippies were the first to place Goa on the tourism map of the world and according to Alu Gomes Pereira, one of the senior-most stakeholders of the industry in Goa, they were the unorganised sector of the industry that saw, enjoyed and learnt to live with the green of the place.
“The hippies were the ones who lived along with nature. Even on a high, they understood and respected the culture of the place and it was their experiences that opened Goa to the world,” recollects Alu, who post the age of 70 recollects the past painting vivid pictures of an era gone by.
Goa Tours owned by Chico and Aldof Fernandes was the first travel company to baptise charter tourism in Goa in 1984. Alu stepped in five years later and believes he was part of the first organised sector of the industry that has grown in leaps and bounds since.
“Organised tourism started in Goa when the Fort Aguada was built by the Taj Group and they started bringing in groups to enjoy the beach. The concept of beach bums was a creation of the hotel,” reminiscences Alu.
The hippies were the ones who lived along with nature. They smoked soft drugs, understood and respected the culture of the place and it was their experiences that opened Goa to the world
Alu Gomes Pereira, senior stakeholder in the tourism industry
From the hippies to beach bums to charter tourists, tourism in Goa didn’t just take a leap, it flowed into a space where the colours shifted from fluorescent to luminous, and the smiles only grew wider.
“Condor was the first German charter in 1984,” remembers Alu and thereafter the industry kept growing greener. “We brought in upper middleclass Germans who loved the nature Goa had to offer. They did not create garbage because for them this place was about the sun and sea. If the youngsters wanted to dance, they walked across to Titos in Baga,” looks back Alu, as the youth in him begins to awaken.
Tourism in Goa is not in a state of flux. It is moving but is hampered because stakeholders do not think in synchrony.
The British were the next to come and their first charter touched down in 1989. “With the British, came in the concept of pubs and that is how one sees places designed to cater to the needs of the English from Candolim to Baga,” explains Alu who savours his coffee and traces the lines of his memory.
Tourism in Goa is not in a state of flux. It is moving but is hampered because stakeholders do not think in synchrony. “When the hotelier prices his room, he should think whether the guest will be able to afford the price and this is the problem the industry is facing,” explains Alu.
“Hoteliers must realise that our guests come not for a day or two but for long and that could stretch to 21 days. Their pricing should keep this in mind,” advises the man who has seen all sides of the business.
Hospitality is part of Goa’s DNA. And, it was this DNA that kept tills jingling furiously until, as Alu says, “The word hospitality changed. The sentence, ‘I want to serve’ is missing now because hospitality was something inborn in us.”
“Tourism in Goa is failing because of the standard of service and I blame the hoteliers for this. Today, there is no hospitality and respectability. It is a money machine now,” moans the man, who at one time, brought cheers not only to guests but all stakeholders.
The food served at most hotels today, and that includes restaurants in five-star hotels, has lost the taste of the past. “What we get is a plastic atmosphere and that is not Goa,” reasons Alu, who believes the number of visitors will increase if emphasis is laid on hospitality.
What we get is a plastic atmosphere and that is not Goa
Alu Gomes Pereira, senior stakeholder in the tourism industry
“We must learn again what it is to serve; we have to start re-thinking what it is that will draw the tourists back. We do not need to go back to search but just re-visit and retrain,” says Alu who has tourism transparently tattooed on his forehead.
As stories of the past flow through Alu, tourism in Goa seems to be on a stutter that could gain space if those new in the business are ready to study its DNA that is still alive and around.