Original version below:
The
Non-Existent Goan for Goa’s Tourism
The advent of every tourism season in Goa brings
smiles and the prospects of a good season stimulates a voracious economic
appetite in some Goans. With an added attraction of the exposition of the
relics of St. Francis Xavier this year 2014, those in the tourism industry are so
to say already scrambling for the pie. Now with the Government’s 365 days
Tourism plan, Goans and Goan concerns will no more exist. All that will matter
will be the Tourist and the Money. Everyone seems to forget that the beautiful
natural surroundings and the over-tolerant and peaceful response of Goans to
abuse and nuisance is what gives that edge to Goa’s tourism industry over other
States. But how much more and how long can the common Goan be abused and taken
for granted by those in the tourism industry?
So while the economic benefits to locals gets emphasised
to justify more tourism, there exists a vast section of the Goan community for
whom the very thought of tourism brings feelings of anxiousness, hopelessness
and anger. So while some are obsessed with demanding economic justice that
ensures a bigger share in the profits from tourism for the local service
providers, they conveniently ignore the mounting injustice and violence by
stake-holders in tourism on the larger section of society. In fact the local aggressor
in the tourism game is now portrayed as the victim. The protests against gross
injustices from the local stake-holders in tourism get branded as parochial, chauvinist,
pro-corporate or anti-development. In short, the struggle which was once for a socially
just tourism in Goa now seems to be overtaken by anti-social justice.
The recent water sports tragedy at Canaguinim is
just one among the many violations by unscrupulous and greedy locals which goes
to expose the hollowness of what gets defended as ‘Local Livelihoods’ in
tourism. Those Goans who encounter endless violations of their rights in daily
life see no difference between the exploitation and destructiveness of the Local
Service Providers from that of Charter Tourism. The label of ‘Local livelihood’
offers a mask for economic greed. It’s about the same old mass tourism toy in
an attractive wrapping which is socially appealing. Therefore, the relaxation
of the sound ban, resistance to taxi fare meters and pollution laws and
security measures, demand for concessions in State taxes, increase in transport
fares, shacks and beach beds on beaches, demonising Russians an Israelis, and
other such self-interests are all that seem to matter when it comes to safeguarding
livelihoods in tourism. The migrant interests are more important than those
locals who are forced to flee the coastal belt to protect their sons and
daughters from the evil influences of tourism, or the miseries of the newly
born, the aged and the sick who are not even allowed to sleep at night. The
destruction of sand dunes, noise pollution, garbage, culture, traffic congestions and promotion of sex,
booze, drugs and gambling along with other social nuisance are secondary or, of
no consequence in conscientious tourism.
So as the violence from tourism gets multiplied and
organised, it is time for Goans to rise and stem the rot before it develops
into a monster like in the case of mining. The fancy vocabulary such as hinterland,
sustainable, just, equitable, ethical, livelihood and the like that get
appended to decorate tourism are ultimately nothing but the same mass tourism. Neither
do they define the carrying capacity for a socially just and conscientious
tourism in Goa, nor are they clear on what
constitutes livelihood ‘need’ from ‘greed’ and ‘small’ from ‘big’ local service
providers. The common Goan cannot be subjected to a life of a Tourist in his
own State. The non-stake holders in tourism cannot be tormented by endless
violation of their Right to Life and driven off the streets and beaches of Goa into
a self-imposed house arrest to make place for the boisterous ‘Guest who is God’
and the unscrupulous ‘Host who is Greedy’.
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