Before AI Chatbots, fix basics in tourism
There is a month and a half before the next tourism season starts. Is Goa Government’s Tourism Dept planning for the next tourism season or will it be another season of stumbling along with the same problems that Goa tourism is saddled with?
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has announced that government will introduce artificial intelligence-based Chatbots to deliver services in tourism, there will be model shack, encouragement of hinterland tourism, relaunching of the tourist security force – especially to deal with touts, a heritage policy in place by August-September, agro tourism, nautical tourism and TIME software for data analysis.
Although Chatbots assisting in Goa Tourism in a welcome move according to stakeholders, who will deal with basics and infrastructure issues in Tourism? What kind of tourism destination does the government want Goa to be projected as? What is the vision for tourism for the next 20 years? Since Tourism is the new milking cow after mining, will tourism too end up in a mess like mining till the industry collapses?
Today, Goa is a destination for mass tourism which is plagued by hordes of low spending international (Russian) and domestic tourists, who visit the state for cheap booze, or those who feel that anything goes in Goa, or Casino tourists.
According to a Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) representative, the last season saw good footfalls in the luxury and lower rung sector; however, the middle sector suffered. Therefore there is need to target the Indian metros and focus on business tourism to boost the middle sector (3-Star hotels). There is no possibility of a firm revival of the charter tourism on which Goa heavily relied on. Therefore, there is need to explore other options such as group tourism from Germany, France and Austria. The direct flights from Goa to Middle East and the Air India–Gatwick flight will help small tour operators from Europe to send tourist groups to India.
The GCCI representative also said Goa has to pursue its potential as a Cruise Tourism destination, which has to be taken up by the Goa government and the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA). For this, there has to be proper international class facilities and Goa has to sort out the transportation issue, besides sorting out the issues between the taxi and coach operators, who embarrassingly fight in front of international tourists. Besides expanding to hinterland, cultural and heritage tourism, there has to be proper beach management. A body has to consolidate and manage the beaches – ensure proper functioning of lifeguards, ensure beaches are clean, touts are apprehended, safety through strict policing, proper lighting and aesthetic hawker zones.
Shacks are an important part of Goa tourism. The government has to ensure that there are genuine Goan shack operators and there is no expansion of deck beds to encroach the beachfront. Beggars harassing locals and tourists should be strictly stopped.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) representatives have questioned why there should be selective AI Chatbot application in certain services? Why should technology not be adopted in transport sector, especially with regard to app-based taxis and last mile connectivity issues? Taxi should strictly use meters and rates need to be renotified.
Besides, there has to be a total revamp of the tourism infrastructure with proper internal roads, proper signages and good parking at all tourists spots, especially the beaches. There should also be toilets and changing rooms at tourist spots and along the highways since many tourists travel by road.
Other stakeholders suggested more promotion of Goa-centric products since tourism should benefit locals. There is also need to engage with the local community to see that they stay invested in tourism.
As regards brand Goa, the garbage, drunkenness, brawls are all becoming a dampener that would affect its brand value! The largest spending segment of tourism is the family segment and Goa desperately needs to have offerings in this area, else will continue with our student & pensioner tourism, none of which bring in the revenue we should be aiming for, but which bring on the perils of drugs and other entertainment, associated with low budget tourism.
There is need to support the entertainment and nightlife industry with ease of doing business, starting with easing out the licence raj, which has actually only been getting more cumbersome, over-priced and dissuading for quality business.
Most importantly, there is need to frame the tourism vision and tourism policy with participation of the stakeholders. Knee-jerk decisions as done in the past should be avoided since they can only spell disaster!
