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

Is Goa “The Rome of the East or Israel in the East”? Outcome of the study
relaxation? We have to find answer to all these questions. In addition, the
drug mafias are making hay in the sunshine. Drugs, sex, prostitution,
paedophilia are showing a steep increase in the graph-line of Goan tourism.
In the name of tourism, men, women and children are abused by many of
the tourists. Crimes, bribes, smugglings, trafficking have polluted the tourism
sector. Today, it looks like Goa is noted for thefts, money laundering, sexual
abuse and so on. In a way, drugs have destabilized the progress in Goa.
The drug mafias are targeting the youth who are the future of Goa.
With regard to this growing problem the Philosophy department of Rachol
Seminary had organized a three day seminar on the impact assessment
of tourism. It was organized in collaboration with EQUATIONS, Alternatives
and Caritas. The resource persons: Mr. Ranjan Solomon and Ms. Aditi
Chanchani presented the critical issues in Goan tourism in such a way
that we were able to see the Goan reality clearly. A short field trip was
conducted at Palolem Beach to study first hand the economic,
environmental, socio-cultural and institutional impacts. This small
endeavour of the field study of Palolem beach helped the researchers to
form a rough sketch for the detailed study
III. The Field Study of Palolem Beach
The seminar on “Impact Assessment of Tourism” included a field study of
tourism in the areas of economic, environment, socio-culture and institution
in the coastal area of Palolem. We moved along the coastal area and tried
to interact with the people, asking them to share their views and feelings
on the impact of tourism. This is an attempt made to give you a report on
the field-study. Palolem is located in Canacona, South Goa.
A. Economic Impact of Tourism
Tourism industry is the largest industry in the world and provides highest
revenue to the government. Approximately 22 lakh tourists visit the small
state of Goa from different parts of the world annually, thus generating
huge sum of money. To accommodate the inflow of tourists, buildings and
huts are set up on the coastal area, even violating the CRZ norms and
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