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Goa’s
Tourism – The Larger Picture by Averthanus L. D’Souza
PANAJI,
GOA, MAR. 25, 2008 (CBCI News):
The tourism bubble in Goa has finally burst, and we are all responsible
for it. Tourism grew quite naturally because of the benevolence
of Nature which provided this beautiful land with strikingly beautiful
landscapes, tropical waters of the Arabian Sea, the undulating
hills and forests and the peaceful flow of waters of the two main
rivers as well as their tributaries. The hospitability and warmth
of the citizens was a notable further attraction to tourists.
It must be remembered that this growth of tourism was gradual,
organic and unorganized. Then the Government (read politicians)
took over and attempted to “promote” Goa as a tourist
destination. Ministers and their bureaucratic entourages as well
as their political hangers-on made it a point to attend “Tourism
Marts” all over the world – at public cost, it must
be remembered. It mattered nothing to them that the infrastructure
of roads, water-supply system, sewerage system, municipal waste
disposal, and other essential services did not exist to service
the large influx of tourists who were being invited. This was
a lop-sided promotion which was driven only by the greed for money
which suddenly seemed to be available easily.
Concurrently with the blinkered actions of the Government, the
people smelled ways to make more easy money. Taxi drivers demanded
totally unreasonable and extortionist fares from tourists; touts
charged exorbitant commissions to lead tourists to cheap rooming
houses; pimps proliferated with the possibility of promoting prostitution
– including minor children. Goa soon earned the notoriety
of being the world’s most paedophile friendly tourist destination.
The tourism industry soon spun completely out of control. With
everyone wanting a share of the profits and no one willing to
preserve the physical, environmental, social and cultural heritage
of Goa, this beautiful land soon became a place that was “up
for grabs” for anyone who had the right connections, and
who knew how to pull the bureaucratic ropes. A parallel “tourist
economy” was generated, which was outside the control of
the Government. Rave parties, all-night dances with loud music,
alcohol and drugs, beach shacks, shady drug joints and a network
of goons and pimps soon found a thriving economy to which they
had easy access.
The so-called “Tourism Economy” of Goa soon attracted
“investors” from abroad. The Russians colonized huge
tracts of beaches. They even had the audacity to keep the locals
off “their” beaches. They employed bouncers (strongmen)
to throw out any Goan who was foolhardy enough to park on a “Russian”
patch of beach. They even hoisted their own flags on their establishments.
The Israelis carved out for themselves Special Exploitation Zones
(SEZs) and were soon followed by Kenyans, Nigerians and other
African “entrepreneurs” who were drawn by the “open”
economy of Goa. The local Goans got the crumbs which fell from
the tables of these colonizers: menial jobs, messengers, drug
pushers, pimps to find prostitutes for the affluent tourists,
taxi drivers and others.
The Government of Goa was not to be done out of its share of the
profits. Licences to set up beach shacks, to provide beach umbrellas
and beach beds were seen as a source of “income.”
But the provision of hard liquour was even more lucrative –
so the Government provided bar licences, even for the asking.
There were no norms to guide the giving of licences. Money changed
hands under the table. Another “profitable” source
of revenue for the Government turned out to be gambling. Very
attractive inducements were offered to the Government. Big international
“Gambling Moghuls” with unrestricted ambitions successfully
cajoled the Goa Government into granting them licences to operate
so-called “off shore” gambling casinos. Gambling is
forbidden by Law in Goa. Of course, like most such legislation
there are gaping loopholes which are quite easily exploited by
clever operators. The term “off-shore” is not defined
in the Act, so floating casinos which are just inches off the
pier can be safely construed to be “off-shore” and
they can be operated without technically breaching the Law. Having
convinced the Government that they do not violate the law, they
then “bribe” the Government with huge “fees”
to get operation licences. Newspaper reports inform us that these
floating casinos have offered to pay licence fees of Rupees Five
Crore each annually to the Government. Originally, the Government
had publicly stated that it would allow only one “off-shore”
Casino to operate; later this was increased to two Casinos (presumably
to encourage competition, and prevent monopolization of gambling);
now we learn that the Government proposes to licence six “off-shore”
gambling Casinos. There are ten others waiting in queue for licences.
What is so terribly disconcerting and actually horrifying to the
citizens of Goa is the fact that a Government, which should be
above the petty manipulations of shady businesses is actually
behaving like a client of the gambling syndicates. It has approved
the operation of six floating casinos merely because this brings
in revenue of Rupees 30 Crore annually. If this crazy argument
is followed to its logical conclusion, the Government should licence
many more “off-shore” casinos and abolish all taxes
on the citizens because it will have ensured income sufficient
to meet its expected expenditures. Nay, it can make gambling a
very profitable business – based on the principle of “Public-Private
Partnership” (PPP) of which our Chief Minister seems to
be enamoured. The State of Goa can become (once again) the Number
One State in India which derives its revenue solely from dispensing
gambling licences. During the build-up to the IFFI, our politicians
(of the India Shining variety) showed a lot of enthusiasm for
making Goa the Cannes of Asia. Now the “aam admi”
Government seems to be vying to make Goa the Monte Carlo of India
or the Las Vegas of the East.
A Government of the people, by the people and for the people does
not exist to promote gambling as a source of revenue, or promote
alcoholism as a means to attract tourists. Government exists to
ensure the welfare of its citizens; to promote social justice
and to take care of those who are in special need, such as the
disabled, the socially marginalized, the politically unrepresented
and the weakest citizens. Alas, our Governments (of whatever political
convictions) have become the allies of questionable Big Businesses
instead of the guardians of the poor and the enfeebled. The “aam
admi” slogan is a mere camouflage to cover up the behind-the-scenes
acquisition of personal wealth and power for the jackals who form
the governing councils of the State. How else can one explain
the plotting and scheming that goes on for getting a Cabinet position
in the Government? Or again, how does one explain the fact that
successive Ministers, in spite of their loud public protestations,
have not been able to remove the River Princess which is grounded
off the Sinquerim beach now for more than six years?
Averthanus L. D’Souza
D-13, La Marvel Colony
Dona Paula, Goa 403 004
Tel: (0832) 2453628
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