The coastal State is gearing for a tourist season post-monsoon.

GOACAN has called for a constant interface between tourism stakeholders on the one hand and multiple State agencies and ecological authorities managing various affairs of the coast to ensure cleanliness, safety and security of the beaches on the other.

Emphasising the importance of beaches to the coastal State’s tourism sector, GOACAN has called upon the State Tourism to ensure the participation of the local people of the coastal villages in the management of tourism and also while protecting the beaches.

In a letter to Swapnil Naik, Director, Tourism, on Sunday, GOACAN has drawn the department’s attention to the deterioration of beaches wherein over-exposure to tourism without continued sustaining measures has seriously impacted the beaches in terms of ecology, garbage, traffic congestion. And, how this eventually impacts the service providers such as shack owners, restaurant owners, water sports operators, guesthouse owners and the residents of the villages, etc., who rely on tourism for livelihood.

That apart, the organisation has invited attention to a malady that is spoiling the State’s reputation as a renowned tourist destination world-wide.

Lorna Fernandes, Secretary, GOACAN, has pointed out that “tourist arrivals on the beaches of Goa have impacted their behavioural patterns such as the growth of sex tourism, drug and alcohol abuse, nudism, rape and molestation of women, paedophilia, theft, murder and drowning incidents”.

She said, “This behaviour has resulted in the increase of crime, breakdown of law and order situation and even a threat to security.”

She has suggested a determined joint action from the coastal villagers, panchayats and other government agencies concerned to remedy the situation.

To begin with, GOACAN has demanded that the Department of Tourism set functional information offices in the coastal villages of Calangute in north and Colva in south which must be managed by the district nodal information officers.

Protection plan

A plan is needed considering the damage to the beaches annually due to the natural climate changes as well as those changes which are man-made.

Redressal

The changes in the beach due to seawater ingression, the illegal sand extraction, damage to sand dunes and deposit of oil and tar balls are some of real problems that need urgent attention, it has noted with concern and wants the Tourism Department to involve various agencies such as the Forest Department, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Coastal Zone Management Authority, National Institute of Oceanography and non-governmental organisations working in the field of environmental protection to work remedial plans.

It has also called for a grievance redressal system to cater to the grievance resolution of tourists who patronise beach tourism in Goa.