Claiming the Right to Say No-30 Nov 09-EQUATIONS - Equitable ...

Claiming the Right to Say No
around 2.6 millions in the recent past with an 85% total share of domestic
tourists. The scenic beauty, abundant greenery, attractive beaches, rivers,
hills, numerous waterways, monuments and waterfalls have been craftily
used to construct the bewitching ‘otherness’ that promises an experience
of exotic play. This construction and representation of Goa as an ‘exotic’
destination is undergoing tremendous change these days. With the growth
of charter flights, enclave tourism began to show its ugly face in our land.
The process of enclavization of tourism in Goa seems to be the logical
consequences of globalization. This development has outsourced many
services, industries related to the visitors as global players began to throw
their weight around and the local participation is reduced to bear minimum
and are left to feed on the bread crumbs that fall from the banquet table of
tourism. The arrival of the Russian and Israeli enclaves has systematically
pushed out the locals from enjoying the major benefits of tourism sector.
Moreover, the cultural attitudes specific to both these groups of visitors also
bring about many cultural, political, economic, social and environmental
consequences on the host community. One can also notice many unbecoming
activities like flesh trade, drug abuse, rave parties and crimes like rapes,
murder etc., making hay as the sun of tourism refuses to set on our land.
This loss of control of the locals over tourism activities in their localities will
receive even greater momentum if the demand for an independent tourism
board is realized. Hence, the struggle to re-claim control and participation
of the host communities is the urgent need of the hour.
A special study conducted on both the Israeli and Russian visitors in Goa
by the students of Major Seminary of Rachol indicate several disastrous
socio-economic, political, environmental consequences of enclavization
of tourism. Their motivation, expectations, travel patterns, and activities
have little to offer to the local communities. This results into a substantial
displacement of the locals. A village like Morjim in North Goa, is a glaring
example of such displacement, where the Russians have established
themselves in one of the wards. Hence, the struggle for sustainable tourism
and native community-centred tourism has become urgent in our state.
Thankfully, we can already notice some efforts being done in this direction.
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