The Cutbona area which is grappling with Cholera has had a ripple effect with online travel platforms triggering the panic button and advising caution to visitors. The impact of such advisories may not be alarming in the overall tourism season, but it is a moment to reflect on, especially since Goa remains a popular tourism destination despite the negative publicity and the competition it has been facing from within the country and outside.
A UK-based travel expert has posted on social media that people should be aware of the prevailing situation in Goa while also mentioning that it is worsening. While some foreigners advised vaccinations before visiting Goa, and even local travel agents in Goa appeared apprehensive of the situation since there is no official word that the problem has been contained. Following the six dengue-linked deaths, Cholera raised its ugly head with nearly 200 migrant workers at Cutbona jetty being diagnosed with the infection.
Tourism has been the mainstay of Goa’s economy, and under no circumstances can the State afford such risks. The loss of tourist footfalls, especially when a new season is knocking on the doors with hotels spruced up and shacks taking shape. The bad publicity could have an impact not only on the hospitality industry but other businesses that are dependent on tourism.
The irony is, that despite this crisis rattling the system, none of the authorities took ownership of their roles and responsibilities in clearing up the mess at jetties. We have alarming situations not only in Cutbona but in Kharewaddo-Vasco and many other areas with only Malim possibly a notch better. The question is not only about the conditions at these jetties but also why nobody bothered to look into the issue. Authorities knew the strength of manpower, they knew there was no proper hygiene and toilet facilities, they knew that there was no proper accommodation and they knew of the violations on the ground. Yet nobody cared.
The authorities are now seen scrambling to contain the situation through site inspections, issuing new protocols, engaging boat owners and threatening action. Focus has been now put on hygiene with setting up of bio-toilets, testing water quality, clearing the scrap and unused vessels in the area through solid waste management, and expediting work on the new 222-metre jetty at Cutbona. Authorities have been working on a war footing with Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira overseeing arrangements. Had this been done earlier, we could have avoided the situation altogether.
While the decks are being cleared and even as boat owners get back to business taking the colossal responsibilities on their shoulders, the tourism department is left with a humungous task of fire-fighting the negative publicity that the State has got over the incident. Lamenting over the opinions of travel agents may not be appropriate at this juncture, but the department must give clarity that Goa has moved past that obstacle and engage in confidence-building measures. There has to be a conscious effort to counter such fears through various channels, including social media outreaches.
Sadly, lessons are learnt the hard way in Goa. It takes fatal accidents for traffic police to intensify road policing and we need reason to unleash tenant verifications. The same holds good here. It was only the Cholera outbreak that sent departments scurrying for damage control, otherwise, the fishing activity at jetties would have been business as usual. We hope lessons are learnt from the Cutbona catastrophe and we also hope authorities understand that there is a greater price to pay for negligence.
