PANJIM: In what could dent Goa’s image as a top tourism destination, the State has been named amongst the 10 worst beach destinations in the world in 2010 based on six different standards. Based on six standards, 340 experts have selected the 10 worst cities in the world in 2010 in a selection held by the National Geographic Society’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations.
The 10 worst beach destinations in 2010 include: Vietnam’s Nha Trang, Spain’s Alicante, Lebanon’s Coasts, Grand Strand – South Caroline, India’s Goa, Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh Area, Cambodia’s Sihanoukville, United Arab Emirates’s Dubai, North Shore -New Jersey, Gulf Coast – Mississippi, Gulf Coast – Louisiana.
According to National Geographic, to create the ratings, the centre convened an independent panel of 340 experts in fields from historic preservation and sustainable tourism to travel writing and archaeology.
The panel was asked to score 99 coastal hot spots around the world, using categories such as “top rated,” “doing well,” “in the balance,” “facing trouble,” and “bottom rated.”
The panel based its decisions on six criteria: environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, conditions of historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management, and outlook for the future. The results appear in the November/December 2010 issue of National Geographic Traveller magazine.
When asked to comment on the listing, Tourism Director Swapnil Naik said he does not quite understand how they reached the conclusion. “I don’t understand how they reached the conclusion,” he said adding “On the social and cultural front, Goans are said to be friendly and hospitable people.”
“Conditions of historic buildings and archaeological sites are much better than the ones abroad. Our churches, temples and forts are much better than even in London,” Naik claimed.
Naik further questioned how the centre could reach the conclusion without meeting officials in the State? “I doubt whether they actually visited Goa,” he said adding, “Maybe they just picked some isolated incidents reported on the Internet.” (HD)
9 comments:
Swapnil Naik should know that the culture of Goa has been destroyed by the ghanttis and the ghantti tourists who descend in their thousands for cheap thrills in Goa.
Accept the fact, our beaches are dirty, littered with rubbish, the lamanis and others pester holiday-makers, our taxi drivers fleece the tourists, our police are corrupt, our hotels and lodges are third-class, and 90 per cent of the people working in the hospitality industry are non-Goans.
The National Geographic Travel magazine has correctly pointed out these facts. Their experts can't be bought for a glass of wine and a night with a woman.
Goa is being destroyed due to the ghanti culture that is being promoted by our 40 chors who are ruling Goa.
Kick out these 40 illiterate goonda politicians and vote in for Niz Goenkar candidates. We will bring in a change to Goa, because we can.
Let the revolution begin in Goa.
Viva Goa, Viva Niz Goenkar, Long live Goan unity, Goa for Goans.
Following Bebdos comment...here is Why the people of Goa are crying and weeping for a lost Paradise.I do not think the 40MLA1s of Goa are concerned at all.
Excerpt from http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/coastal-destinations-rated/bottom/india/
Score: 41
This beach-lined former Portuguese colony offers wildlife sanctuaries, and its towns and cities feature a style of colonial architecture unique in India. Unfortunately, Goa's reputation for sun-and-sand hedonism often attracts visitors uninterested in the state's natural and cultural heritage.
Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:
"Overcrowding, pollution, overbuilding, and drug abuse have destroyed one of the world’s finest stretches of beach."
"Uncontrolled tourism development with no regard for the local culture or environment. The hotels could be anywhere in the world and cater to European charter tourism focused on cheap, all-inclusive resorts."
"Unplanned development leaves the area with severe problems from lack of sanitation, pollution of waterways, and erosion. This is regrettable because state of Goa features outstanding natural and cultural heritage. Many of the historic structures are giving way to faceless modern architecture."
"Outside of the main tourist areas the environment is still pristine but is being bought up by developers intent on building unsustainable resorts. There are many foreign-run businesses. There is little encouragement for locals to protect environment and culture."
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i don't understand why our elected representatives don't see the reality and declare Goa as a place of disaster. Set up a disaster management Team and first put the infrastructure in place. Roads, bridges, pavements, etc. The beaches are littered with all sorts of trash and the latest addition of tar balls to the coastline has worsened the beaches. I do not understand why the Tourism department enjoying their trips around the World in the name of inviting additional tourists. The tourists we have, we cannot manage. It is a shame that our beaches are encroached by private hotels and private parties like Vijay Mallaya at Candolim. One sunken barge like River Princess is getting corroded day by day for the last 10 years, what else do we need to look at the milestone of the corrupt government of Goa?
As long as Goa will be ruled by the Chors and corrupt illiterates, nothing will change. Hope Niz Goenkars with backbone, young and energetic, non corrupt will soon take over the affairs and rule goa just like in the Portuguese era.
No surprise. These fools are destroying Goa. As usual they don’t have a clue……What is happening is Goa, is like being a bystander on the roadside, watching a car accident about to happen, but being helpless to stop it. We can scream and shout, but nothing will change. Where are the donkey freedom fighters now? Goa is going down the drain for the last 50 years.....and that is the truth! I am not for Portuguese rule, but the facts are, as they are! Even 15 years ago we were on the list of the most beautiful beaches in the world...keep it up...keep destroying Goa. I don't benefit from tourism...these should teach the people who keep electing rouges into the corrupt system...Since I cannot vote, the people who vote these people into office should take the blame and carry this burden of destroying Goa.......What the Portuguese did not do in 450 years, has been done in less then 50years. Good! I would like tourism die a quick death, then all the non-Goans can go back to their home states!
This was an article on Goa's tourism published in Gulf News, Dubai some years ago.
Check it out
How Goa is going out of favour
By Joseph Marques, Chief Sub-Editor Published: 00:05 May 3, 2008
Dubai: Diana Quelhas is a Briton of Goan descent. The 23-year-old medical student had made up her mind to return to the state this year after spending her holidays there last December. So much was she taken up with the sun, sea and surf. Safety concerns have since forced a change of heart after the state came into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Quelhas's fears are not unfounded coming in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old Briton. The two suspects who exploited the vulnerability of the young Scarlett Keeling are behind bars after a prolonged campaign by her mother Kate to expose the truth.
Keeling may not be the only victim of lust and drugs for that matter. There may be other cases too of people who - as per police records - have "drowned", "died in accidents" or had a "natural death".
Rave party destination
According to the British consulate in New Delhi, 40 UK nationals died in Goa last year. This year, up to March, the figure is 10.
Every year, Britons make up nearly 60 per cent of all the foreign tourists who visit Goa. Most of these visitors head for the pristine beaches, and some to scout for business and property. But it is not all sun and business - there is sleaze and drugs.
Goa is a rave party destination. It has a genre of music named after it - Goa Trance. Drugs, alcohol and hashish-laced pie, tarts and trollops are part and parcel of night-long parties.
There is big money involved and everyone wants a piece of the pie. The locals, Britons, Russians, Germans and Israelis have demarcated their turf. It is the Russians and Central Asians, of late, who are making their presence felt. And there is talk of the Russian mafia investing in land and running call girl services for rich clients, including the noveau riche.
"Go to Morjim [a beach in North Goa] and take a look. The Russians have taken it over. There are bars and restaurants owned by them and even the signboards are in their language," says Francisco (Mickey) Pacheco, the state's Tourism Minister.
If the Russians have taken over Morjim, then the Israelis have pitched their tents at the Palolem beach in the south. Not to be outdone, the Britons, Nigerians and other foreigners, have carved out pockets of their own influence along the Arabian Sea coast.
"It is not that the police are not aware of these groups, but they are hand in glove with them," Pacheco said from the US, where he runs a business.
Those who have been to Goa, and Goans themselves, will agree with Pacheco on the vulnerability of the police. "What will the police do when they pay lakhs [one lakh is 100,000] to the local politician to be selected as sub-inspector? They have to recoup that and the only way they can do it is by fleecing tourists - Indians and foreigners," reasons Caje Fernandes, a Goan working in a hotel in Dubai.
"As tourism minister, it is my duty to ensure visitors coming to the state are safe, but I am not the home minister to enforce the law," says Pacheco.
The police were left red-faced for bungling the Scarlett Keeling case but are now trying to make amends. At Pacheco's suggestion, the home ministry has initiated safety measures along the coast and intensified patrolling by putting more officers on the beat. Some consulates are now complaining that their citizens are being harassed.
PART II OF GULF NEWS ARTICLE ON GOA
Recently, four girls from Uzbekistan were arrested for prostitution during a sting operation in the state. They are believed to be part of an international prostitution ring, allegedly run by a Russian woman. Each girl charged around Rs35,000 (Dh3,5175) per night.
Cases have been registered against Russian land sharks too, some of whom have bought property by circumventing Reserve Bank of India regulations.
Protesting against a series of "repressive actions" against its citizens, the Russian Embassy sent its Mumbai Consulate General, Alexander V. Mantytsky, to Goa to voice its concern.
In a letter to the state's Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, Mantytsky said: "Russian tourists have had to face unfair attitudes of Goan policemen, hotels and guesthouse owners. The Consulate has registered an increase in complaints of Russian nationals regarding numerous unlawful actions by Goan inhabitants lately."
Pacheco, however, expressed his unhappiness over the allegations of Russians being treated unfairly. "Tell me, what are we supposed to do? If the police arrest some Russians or for that matter other foreigners who indulge in anti-social activities such as drug trafficking and prostitution, their respective consulates intervene to protect them and accuse Goan authorities of harassment. As for buying of property in Goa, we ensure that foreign buyers adhere to the law of the land. I am not against it as even I run a business establishment in the US."
It is a Catch 22 situation for authorities.
"Yes, we will have campaigns to attract tourists to Goa," says Pacheco. But how many will go to the "land of paradise" where the fun never ends?
As for Diana, she is going to Australia.
At last it is made official by un-corrupt intellectuals, Goa no longer share the top 10 destination for tourists attraction but the bottom ten. Thanks to our corrupt politicians who are adamant in destroying Goa. To add the Ghantis use the beaches for their early morning toilets. The behaviour of non-Goan Indian tourists towards foreign tourists doesn’t help either. Rapes, drug, robberies and murders are on the tourists menu too. A political revolution is the answer for a change in Goa, by kicking out the current regime.
@diogofichardo... true, Goa needs a political revolution and Niz Goenkars can do it. The voters of Goa should realise that they are a part and parcel of Goa and should not sell their votes for a few hundred rupees. We should first educate our Goan voters on the ill-effects of selling their votes for the illiterate-goonda politicians who then sell Goa to the ghanttis for the right price.
Viva Goa, Viva Niz Goenkar, Goa for Goans
I have said it once, and I will say it again...The Indian Government is ‘PROSTITUTING’ Goa for a foreign exchange revenues....When are our people going to get this???? They don't give a damn about Goa, they will exploit it for everything it has....please also compare Google maps of Goa from just 10 years ago and see the destruction that is visible from the moon! It is tragic what is going on….do we need to wait for more articles to be written about the destruction of Goa??? Is everybody in denial????
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