Dear Babu – Tourism Minister Goa 2019 Dear Manohar Azgaonkar
Issue: Tourism in Goa Timing: Immediate Background and Recommendation – As Below I am writing to you for the record as having been involved with other pioneers in setting up the Air Bridge for direct flights from the United Kingdom, UK to Goa, the first flight being on Paramount Airlines putting Goa on the Tourist Map over twenty years ago. I am very disappointed and feel let down with the current state of affairs. It is not your fault or that of the Government of Goa that Greed is openly flaunted by most local people. For example in November 2018 I managed to get to Baga Beach courtesy of Goa’s Hop On Hop Off Bus (Ho Ho Bus) I looked for a place where I tasted Prawn Papad for the first time some twenty years ago. Not being sure whether it was St Anthony’s or Sea Pearl asking around came across a Pan Spitting waiter with a scowl who did not speak any English or Konkani and walked away. This put me off, I ended at Brittos Shack ordered a Lime Soda only to be served with Lime Juice, the squid served was very bland nothing like our Goa taste garnished with masala and coconut vinegar. A bottle of Honeybee on the menu had a price tag of INR 1,270.00 where in Mapusa the retail price is INR 189.00 even with Government Sales Tax the price displayed, if you agree, is pure greed. Baga Beach three years ago resembled the Costas in Spain. On this visit, there was not one “Foreigner” or Russian in sight for a place blessed with sunshine and the harvest of the sea with empty sun beds. Instead there is a concreted Pay Car Park large enough for twenty football pitches for cars and coaches. Some of these coaches bring fourth generation visitors from the former British India who display a lack of potty training and poor hygiene standards thus soiling the Beach with the call of nature creating a stench despite having washroom facilities nearby at INR 10.00 to use. The men can afford drink and break bottles on the beach for a thrill that is not their backyard and have no respect for local people. For a factual video summary click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MUTApsfFwE And click here for local viewpoint: https://www.facebook.com/leode.chinchinim.5/videos/144120753259202/?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARDeILJiisNUTKAzL874KgMD11FMGnjbyoLw1h-LkUKG4L1OFMOwETmO-2eFL9sBgr4kkOrXf60Y9KvA&hc_ref=ARTArPIr810cqu7HstyOUlB2mtcpTCuhLcmxK1aDFj_1qrXoxCbK_kA5N28Tl5jq_2k&fref=nf https://www.facebook.com/leode.chinchinim.5/videos/144120753259202/?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARDeILJiisNUTKAzL874KgMD11FMGnjbyoLw1h-LkUKG4L1OFMOwETmO-2eFL9sBgr4kkOrXf60Y9KvA&hc_ref=ARTArPIr810cqu7HstyOUlB2mtcpTCuhLcmxK1aDFj_1qrXoxCbK_kA5N28Tl5jq_2k&fref=nf It was heartbreaking the see the once tree lined Panjim to Mapusa Road resembling the French Reviera with flowers on roundabouts destroyed and dissected, diversions due to huge man made concrete boulders and debris from the Bombay by pass to Kerala via Goa. Locals say that there will be a slope at Porvorim. There should also be washrooms at the bottom of the slope otherwise travellers will be answering the call of nature in the fields and building wall creating stench and disease if not addressed. I also know that as part of Modieconomics India and China are Competing for World Top Spot but at what cost. India is a democracy, at least have Goa restored to its former Glory, restore meetings with the good people at Travel and Trade Association of Goa (TTAG) and work on a direction or like the Titanic prepare to sink. Every young Goan person you speak to can’t wait to leave. Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sx9kTFfoUo My letter was prompted by oHeraldo E Paper Jan 12 Page one 2019 courtesy of Goan Voice UK for information and awareness please forward to all members of the Goa Legislative Assembly (MLA) Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, England 13 January 2019 melvynfernan...@virginmedia.com
