Tourism, Mopa and Contradictions

Posted on 2008-08-12
RECENT press reports forecasting a bleak coming year vis-à-vis tourism is a cause for concern – especially for all those who are directly/indirectly dependent on tourism and for those who have invested much. The fears of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) are certainly not imaginary. As we all know, the tourism industry is highly volatile in nature in the sense that it can collapse suddenly thereby putting all players in an unwanted and un-envious quandary.
Under the said circumstances of a not-so-good tourism forecast it becomes quite paradoxical to hear about all out attempts being made to develop another airport at Mopa. Are tourists to Goa on the decline because of the poor condition of the Dabolim Airport? Has any one verified the actual reasons for the same? Is having a so-called Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) vis-à-vis the retention of Dabolim Airport sufficient to retain Dabolim alongside Mopa forever? Is a MoU so sacrosanct a final word that it cannot be reneged upon ever?
We complain openly of declining tourism – under such conditions do we need two airports? Having another airport at Mopa will it really attract more tourists? If yes, and Dabolim airport is subsequently closed will more hotels be set up to take care of them in the vicinity which then will put immense pressure on other existing hotels all over Goa especially in distant places like Canacona?
If having an international airport on the extreme northern tip of Goa is not a blatantly ridiculous joke, could there be another one in the Southern tip too just to satiate the whims of some? Being not in favour of Mopa is certainly not to be treated as being anti-North Goa, for Dabolim is situated in the centre and not in the extreme South to go against the interests and well being of the North!
If having two airports were a must it would be worthwhile to shift the Navy from Dabolim to Mopa (if Karwar is not an option). Shifting would in fact offer four prime advantages: land acquisition would be cheap, potential accidents involving naval aircraft during exercises in a hotspot like Vasco with high population, port and oil installations would be reduced, the navy could get a state-of-the-art new airport and Goa would have a bigger Dabolim airport conveniently located offering more-or-less equidistant facilities both to the North and South.
Incidentally, the surest way of attracting more tourists, is not by having two airports – but by making Goa cleaner vis-à-vis garbage, crime and corruption! - Savio Falleiro, The writer is a resident of Borda, Margao and has a heart for social concerns