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Goa Tourism
José Colaço
November 16, 1999
Goa
Tourism [2] - José Colaço
continued from
1
There are several
principals in the Tourism Equation : The Tourists, The Tourist Industry, The People of Goa, The Government and the Watchdogs.
Each of these factors have expectations and responsibilities. Sometimes
the demands of one or another factor exceeds reason or the responsibility of another is seen to be very poor. This is where the
Watchdogs like the Press and Social Activists come in.
1. Tourists:
Expectations: A tourist visiting a country has a right to expect the
following.
* A comfortable trip and courteous service on the trip.
* A comfortable port of entry with clean surroundings and toilet
facilities. * A comfortable and organized manner of transit through immigration and
customs. * An user-friendly port of entry with access for the handicapped and
trolleys that work * A hassle free transfer via bus/taxi to the hotel or accommodation of
choice. * The non presence of filth and chaos as the ' first line of sight and
smell '. * A decent and clean hotel commensurate to the tariff.
* Hygienically prepared and served food.* Adequate hotel security so that there is
diminished harassment from pimps, peddlers and police. * Reasonable facilities for communication, relaxation, exercise and
entertainment. e.g.: room service, official currency cambio, clean rooms, baths and
toilets, telephones, fax and e-mail capability, swimming pool, spa,
gymnasium, night club, golf courses and casino. *Theme parks and adequately organized sight-seeing tours to nature
preserves and historical places of interest * Safety on the roads of Goa.
* Maximum possible protection from beggars, gawkers, molesters and
rapists. * A hassle free trip back from the hotel and out of the country.
Responsibilities : Expectations from a tourist.
* To expect to pay for the service. To understand that one gets the
service one pays for. * To be tolerant of some unplanned-for delays in service e.g. due to
weather conditions, strikes, unusual load etc. * To have all the necessary forms filled out and documents ready for
inspection at the port of entry. * Not to get involved, encourage or initiate dialogue or transaction
with the pimps and peddlers. * To be reasonable in behaviour in public places especially after
consumption of alcohol. Not to consume alcohol if one cannot handle it.
* To observe the norms of common decency i.e. arrive in dining rooms
appropriately attired - reserving reasonable swim wear for the pool or
beach. * Understand that hyper revealing attire attracts unwelcome attention
from deprived souls. * To make every effort not to litter the place.
2. The Tourist Industry :
Expectations:
* To make a reasonable return for the investment. * That the Government and people of the State afford certain privileges
for the investment to thrive. * That the Government controlled services e.g. Police, Electricity,
Telecom, Water and Waste Management provide reasonably efficient
services.
Responsibilities :
* To ensure that all activities conducted in the State are within limits
of decency, politeness and civility, reason and efficiency. It is the
good name of the State and its residents which is also at stake.
* To strive to ensure that any construction undertaken has adequate
regard for the surroundings especially the architecture of the State.
* To ensure that the facility and surroundings are kept clean and that
the garbage is properly disposed off. * To ensure that the host community where the facility is being
constructed, is not inconvenienced with regard to beach or property
access. * To ensure that night club activities do not disturb the host
community. Operators of such facilities may wish to remember that it is
not only the booming music which disturbs the neighbours. It is also the
screeching and tooting vehicles and boisterous behaviour of the patrons
of such places which disturbs the neighbours, many of whom have a hard
day's work ahead of them. Night club operators should not seek to open
businesses in residential communities. * To ensure that the establishment stringently and effectively
discourages the activities of all those who peddle or solicit.
* To make every effort to train and employ qualified individuals from
within the locale or State especially in managerial positions.
* To resist the temptation to encroach, usurp, squat on or grab property
which does not belong to the business operation. * To resist the temptation to subject the host community to power play
tactics. * To stringently avoid acts of corruption e.g. bribery of police and
civil servants.
The People of Goa :
Expectations:
* that tour operators will understand the concern of Goans when new
projects are being planned. After all, it is their peace, tranquility,
way of life and environment which will be disrupted. Thus far, this
disruption has most often been callous and indiscriminate. * that any new operations will blend as far as physically possible with
the surroundings. * that the environment will be kept clean and not be degraded or
destroyed. * that there will definitely be NO increase in the sound pollution at
nights. * that hoodlums, gangsters, prostitutes, peddlers, extortionists are
actively discouraged from the tourist facility. Light is known to
attract insects. * that the beach access, property and passage rights of individuals are
not violated. * that the government and press play their part in ensuring that the
rights of the host community are not violated.
Responsibilities :
* To be reasonable without being trodden over. * To understand that a
reasonable price has to be paid for reasonable progress. *
To organize Social Watchdog Cells to monitor trust or rights violation
(TRV) * To vote in elections at all levels where decisions are made.
* To be proactive but within reason. * Not to allow self and others to bribe or be bribed.
* To expose corruption - without selectivity, prejudice or design.
* To put forth plans for progress and development. * Not to oppose progress just for the sake of opposition or because of
prejudice.
continued
on page
3
Goa Travel
Advisory
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