Goa needs to work at preventing assaults on tourists and creating positive vibes
Goa saw two back-to-back cases of assault on tourists at beach shacks in Calangute recently. In the first case, an altercation over a food order late at night turned violent, in which a tourist from Andhra Pradesh died, according to the police. In the second incident, the scuffle was over a petty matter. Four persons were arrested, including the owner of the shack and his son, in connection with the assault case that led to the death of the 28-year-old tourist. Six persons, mainly staffers of the shack, were arrested for the assault on the Mumbai tourists in which one was injured.
Shack owners say that there is their side of the story, too. They claim that many a time domestic tourists want shacks to remain open late into the night, which results in arguments. Some domestic tourists want shacks to remain open beyond midnight and to be served alcohol at closing time. “If we request that we want to close as it›s already late, they get into arguments,” said a shack owner.
Shack operators have now suggested round-the-clock patrolling by police personnel at beach stretches to prevent any untoward incidents. Their contention is that it takes police time to reach the spot from their respective police stations or PCR. Hence, posting some policemen near lifeguard towers will be better, according to them. The police department did well by convening a meeting of shack owners to tell them to pull up their socks and to maintain calm. SP (North) told them to not take the law into their hands, no matter what the instigation.
The two incidents have brought much negative publicity to Goa. This is in addition to some social media users showing Goa tourism in a bad light. A Goa minister has alleged that some social media influencers are paid to portray Goa poorly. He has said that the government was examining legal recourse to put an end to the unwarranted tirade against Goa on social media. Two months ago a complaint was filed by the Goa Tourism Department against a social media user for “misleading the people” with wrong data on tourist arrivals to Goa.
Considering the two incidents, the state government will have to do much more to bring some order to beach stretches. Shacks are the essence of Goa tourism for beachgoers, and shack owners are the brand ambassadors. This season, the tourism department did a commendable job by ensuring that licence renewals and other issues were approved very early. After many years, beach shacks were put up fairly early this season. Beach shacks are one tourism component that, so far, still remain in the hands of the locals. The two assault cases occurred within two days of each other and that too during the peak tourist season. They have been investigated by the police, and in them are lessons for the government. It will have to take some steps to prevent such incidents that give the state a bad name. It’s not a question of whether the accused are locals or not. No one should take the law into their hands. The government needs to intervene and correct the situation in association with the shack owners and other stakeholders.
