By Mário Cabral e Sá
Are Goa beaches safe? How safe?  Safe from what?  From whom? Open your favourite newspapers or the one you dislike the most:  the stories are similar about beach happenings: Russian women raped, Russian child molested, Goan cabbie murdered by Russian bar owner.

The focus is on Russians for two reasons: One, their number has increased phenomenally and keeps increasing; two, the numbers of other nationals keeps decreasing because their national and personal economies are yet to recover from the global meltdown, which consumed in its voracity some of the biggest industries, banks and financial institutions. And a holiday in a soft currency destination, like Goa, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand is no longer a yearly mandatory indulgence. It is simply unaffordable right now, but given a year or two things will normalise.
It is the Russians now, it was the British in years past, because the bulk of Goa-destined tourists was British. 
Prophets of doom, particularly TV channels and among them notoriously NDTV – remember  Barkha Dutt’s special “We the People” on Calangute beach after Scarlett Kealing’s death (the more I get to know about it, the less I believe ex-IGP Krishna Kumar’s exotic forensic  theory) – have tried their best (or perhaps worst) to discredit Goa. They did not succeed, for the simple reason that a tourist is not swayed by alarmist news.  Informed about statistics by his travel agents, they have the figures on their charts and brochures, which are compiled by well-informed statisticians.  They know better than the alarmist does what the real truth is; that more tourists die on Spanish holidays than in Goa. 
Tsunamis haven’t scared off tourists.  Ask the Maldivian the Srilankans, or the Thais for that matter.
Lest we forget, tourism grew in Goa all by itself because of its beauty, tranquillity and peace.  Because of the hospitality and friendliness of its people.  The first foreigners to discover it were the bras-and-draft-cards burners protesting the US’ disastrous entry in the Vietnam War.
Tourism in Goa is a peoples’ movement, built largely on the foundation laid by the Goan entrepreneurs.  As Ralph de Sousa, the outgoing President of TTAG never tires of saying, “it grew and now attracts investments of about Rs 30,000 crore, which represent 33 per cent of the state’s GDP. Rs 850 crore revenue contribution to the states exchequer, are equivalent to 1/3rd of Goa’s populations requirement for their living. There are only half a dozen revenue-earnings directorates in the State of Goa. The rest just spend, and not too wisely either.
It is time to give Ralph his due, for his contribution for the cause of Goa’s Tourism. His regret is that unfortunately the Government has so far failed to understand its importance and change its attitude towards the industry.
However, pre-budget memorandums submitted by TTAG to the finance ministers over the years have achieved a modicum of rationalisation of various taxes, specially the luxury tax.
After the 9/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, TTAG held the morale of the industry high in very difficult times. It helped to rebuild the depleting market and injected a sense of positiveness in the players of the industry, to surface from deep crises. 
More: participated, advised the government, and identified new markets through its members. Not only that: it lobbied with the government at the state and Central level, and assisted wherever possible, to start schedule flights from Goa to international destinations.
It assured the visitors that Goa is a safe destination. When three instances of major crimes on the beach belt threatened to tarnish the name of Goa and Goans. The media conveniently forgot that around 2.5 million people from the domestic and international markets happily holidayed in Goa and got back home safe and satisfied.  TTAG stepped out and made this fact known throughout the country and in many countries overseas.
It fully supports the preservation and protection of Goa’s heritage monuments, and is working tirelessly to start a ‘Home Stay’ scheme in Goa, converting heritage houses into heritage guesthouses, run by the families owning them. Soft loans and marketing support are proposed under this scheme.
Five USPs made Goa the most sought after destination in the long haul winter program worldwide. It rates among the top 10 destinations in the world to spend Christmas and New Year.  It is noteworthy that 40 per cent visitors are repeat clientele – one of the highest in the world. These USPs are: clean and safe destination; friendly and hospitable locals; unique lifestyle mixed, culture and cuisine; white sands and the warm waters of the Arabian Sea and finally the natural beauty of Goa’s unique villages.
These are the factors responsible for the success of Goa in the national and international markets. Unfortunately, the USPs are slowly eroding and doing what it must. TTAG is pushing for their addressal and protections with the state authorities. If not safe guarded these USPs, the very foundation on which the industry is built, will collapse, and bring ruin to the state of Goa and its inhabitants.  
There admittedly are areas to be addressed eg: serious infrastructure shortfalls, the shoddy solid waste management in north and south Goa, and the lack of an entertainment hub in both. Goa could do one or more marinas and cruise berths, and finally, at least one golf course, which the modern tourist, particularly the Japanese, consider essential.
Some safe guards that are required and perhaps overdue: the protection of the positive aspects and control of the negative; building laws not only on the coast but also throughout Goa have to be strictly enforced, over development has to be prevented at all costs. The deficiencies are already very much noticeable.
Law and order has to be forcefully implemented to prevent crime, illegal and desirable activities. If quick action is taken against offenders, it will give a sense of security to the visitors. Goa has exploited the coast to a saturation point and is venturing into hinterland and heritage tourism. The surroundings have to be protected and nature respected. Concretisation of natural habitats must be prohibited, and careful promotion and development of hinterland tourism, respecting the ecology, natural beauty, heritage and sensitivity of the village culture should be the chosen path.
Government seems to at least have realised that it ought to have controlled the number of casinos as they have huge marketing budgets, which are larger and more effective than the department’s budget.  It is Ralph’s honest feeling that intensive marketing by a huge number of casinos will shadow Goa’s promotions as a family destination.
What will really work for Goa, Ralph is sure, will be a Tourism Board. Every successful destination is guided by a board and it is time Goa has one. The minister for Tourism, it seems, does not approve of the idea.
In fact, after the CII Tourism Summit held last October, a memorandum was submitted to the State Government stating the need for the constitution of Goa Tourism Board. The Board would be created by an act of legislature, and would consist of representatives from the government, from the trade and professionals from tourism industry with proven track record.
Its functions would be: having budgetary provisions; formulating a strong Goa-centric tourism policy;  short and long term planning of the tourism activities, and the careful selection of suitable tourism projects, concerning infrastructure and allied services, and finally the intelligent  promotion of Goa in domestic as well as international markets. The Board would professionalise tourism in Goa to the desired level, and effectively bring about the growth, keeping in mind sustainability and carrying capacity of State of Goa.