Very well written article! Congratulation to the author Maria Couto and "The
Hindu" newspaper for publishing it. Now that Goa has the national and the
international spotlight, Goans seeking improvements in their native land should
not rest till the problems are solved. However, the problems are not going to
be analyzed and solved by the politicians who have permitted it to be created
by the vested elements, and with the police to go-along.
Goa needs a "tourist board" (if it does not have one) at the district and at
the national level. These boards should consist of those with an economic
interest as well as representatives of various NGOs and Civic Action Groups.
The tourist board meetings should be OPEN FORUMS.
India Abroad a weekly news-magazine for Indians in the USA had a full-page
article on the Scarlett episode. The photograph accompanying the article was
Anjuna beach with stray dogs, rag tag flea market, and an atmosphere right on
the beach. It was not impressive. No wonder, the high-end tourists do not come
here and the high-end vendors does not market here. There is no tax base to pay
/ provide any basic services, including police protection. I think the tourist
lobby should / would like to see this attraction ended.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has to be involved to break the
foreign links which appear to run the drug trade as users (junkies and
recreational), pushers, mules (transport), and lab operators. In the news
report, Goa has become the manufacturing center and the point for national and
international shipping of drugs. Tourists, especially children, are used to
transport, as they are not severely punished if caught, because of their age.
One poster to goanet, had suggested using a national TV investigative program
like "Thedelka" (I think). Yet, today with cell phones cameras, and You-Tube
web links, much corruption can be exposed by ordinary citizens. I had
previously suggested any business dealing with drugs in any form on its
premises should be shut down for a month. And three shutdowns calls for the
termination of the business.
There is no question that tourism, civil society and native culture can survive
and all can prosper. This is accomplished all across the world - from Hawaii to
Monaco to Singapore and closer to home - in Rajasthan. It should succeed in Goa
too, if all cooperate and build on success instead of the same-old wringing of
hands.
Native Goans have to honestly ask themselves: Are the tourists really changing
Goan culture (as Maria Couto and others suggest)? Or are the tourists and
politicians just an excuse for changes in the Goan society that does not
appreciate the importance of preserving their traditions? If Goans did realize
the importance of preserving their traditions and culture, the diaspora Goans
in the US and Canada would be preserving their traditions (LIKE MANY OTHER
ethnic groups). Starting with Mario, few other recent posts on goanet over the
last few days have shed some light on preserving Goan culture.
Regards, GL
------------ Vidyadhar Gadgil
From: The Hindu, 24 March 2008
Deconstructing tourism image of Goa by Maria Aurora Couto There is a dilemma
posed by the tourism industry - one of the main sources of employment. Our
environment, the main attraction for tourists, requires an embargo on polluting
industries. Income earned in foreign exchange is taken by the Centre and does
not form part of the subventions from the Centre to the State.
Tourism must survive but so must Goan society. A higher level of policing is
called for, with more women constables, preventive intelligence, a parametric
and high level surveillance which should elicit the full cooperation of
non-governmental organisations and civic action groups who feel left out of the
system as helpless spectators of a tragedy.
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