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

Claiming the Right to Say No
An Experience:
A Joy and Challenge
Introduction
By Elias Rebello
Goa, a place of joy, peace, calm and serenity is something ‘common’ to
begin with. But this word ‘common’ in the above statement, after a couple
of years will be replaced by the word ‘uncommon’. Where is Goa currently
standing? What are the causes for such a standing? And what hand do
the Israeli tourists have in the tourism of Goa? These are some of the
questions I have tried to study. I have also highlighted my experience of
the study in this report.
The Experience Begins
On the first day, actually the first night, when I placed my foot in the field of
my study, I decided to just make observances. And as heard, the 9 Bar
was a good spot to begin. The moment I entered I was welcomed by
smoke from cigarettes and its kind. Since it was my maiden encounter, I
was confused at the sight of how the boys and girls of foreign origin were
dancing to the indefinable tune of the trance music. A sense of challenge
rose in me and I decided to have a conversation with one of the tourists,
who was on the dance floor. But the conversation had to take a rest. It
was not possible due to heavy loads of trance music. The rates of the
drinks in the bar were least 10% higher than the actual rate.
I was very much excited and said to myself that I will give my best to do
this study and make it a real success. But, on the next day when I was
informed that the major and main chunk of tourists had already moved out
from the venue of our study, I was a bit held back. But I kept high hopes
and moved forward.
When I began to ask the ‘Lamanis’ about their view on tourists in general,
most of the responses hit a common spot. They felt that the Israeli tourists
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