Goa is losing its paradise to overtourism

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 The smell of the sea has been replaced by garbage stench.

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.

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.

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