Goa is losing its paradise to overtourism

Praveena Sharma

WHO MOVED MY BEACH?

The once-pristine-and-serene Goa is losing its the natural beauty to overtourism. As the coastal State’s tourism explodes, lack of regulations and enforcements is destroying its beaches.

Goa | Lost paradise |Bane of overtourism | Destroyed beach | Photo: Praveena Sharma

RAVAGED BY OVERTOURISM

In recent times, most tourist destinations across the globe are grappling with overtourism, which occurs when a place receives more tourists than it can handle. Goa is also its victim.

Goa | Ravaged beaches | Tourism explosion |Victim of over overtourism | Photo: Praveena Sharma

RAVEN OF DOOM

Even as tourist arrivals into Goa surged due to better connectivity and affordability, the State was not prepared for it. Unregulated tourism has led to environmental degradation and tourists abusing local resources.

Goa | Raven of doom |Tourism surge |Unregulated tourism | Photo: Praveena Sharma

OFFENCES OF NUISANCE

Most tourists arriving into the State have little care for local resources and culture. In the absence of rules or laws for policing or penalising offences of nuisance, most get away with littering and consuming alcohol in unauthorised places.

Goa | Offences of nuisance | Absence of policing |Littering | Photo: Praveena Sharma

UNPLEASANT SIGHT

Goa has seen some its white-sand or calm beaches turn colour and teem with visitors due to unchecked tourism. This has made them less attractive and less enjoyable.

Goa | Unpleasant sight | White sand beaches | Unchecked tourism | Photo: Praveena Sharma

TRANSFORMING GOAN BEACHES

Some of the Goan beaches are no longer about meditative walks, watching sunset as the sea slowly swallows the distant golden ball or feeling the sea breeze on your face. The smell of the sea has been replaced by garbage stench.

Goa | Meditative walks | Watch sunset |Sea breeze |Sea smell | Garbage stench | Photo: Praveena Sharma

LIFE GONE ASKEW

Overtourism also results in deterioration of quality of life for locals of a tourist destination. Goa, which had few traffic signals and was stranger to traffic snarls is now learning to cope with traffic woes.

Goa | Life askew |Quality of life |Traffic signal |Traffic snarls | Photo: Praveena Sharma

FEW BIRDS FLY HERE

And, as overtourism sweeps Goa's beaches, many of them have seen seagulls, pelicans, cranes and other ocean birds leave their shores. In their place, dogs and ravens now roam most of the trash-laden beaches.

Goa | Few ocean birds | Replaced by dogs and ravens | Photo: Praveena Sharma

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