Panaji: MLA Michael Lobo on Thursday said that Idli Sambhar is being served at beach shacks, which is one of the reasons why international tourism is declining in the state.
Addressing a press conference at Calangute in North Goa, Lobo said that the government cannot be blamed for the decline in foreign tourism in the state, as stakeholders are also equally responsible.
The Calangute MLA said that Goans have rented out their beach shacks to businessmen from Delhi. “Some people from Bengaluru are serving Vada Pav on the shack, and some are selling Idli Sambhar,” he said, claiming that international tourism has been declining in the state for the last two years.
“There is a hue and cry because of the decline in tourism. The coastal belt, whether in the North or South, is witnessing a serious decline in foreign tourists. There are a lot of factors responsible for it,” Lobo said.
“We, as stakeholders, should all bear responsibility for it,” he said.
Lobo stated that while some foreigners visit Goa every year, younger foreign tourists are choosing other destinations.
“The tourism department and stakeholders should hold a joint meeting and study the reasons why foreign tourists are not ready to come to Goa,” he said.
Lobo added that due to the ongoing war, Russian and Ukrainian tourists have stopped visiting Goa. “Tourists from former USSR countries have also stopped coming,” he said.
The MLA emphasized that the state should address crucial issues concerning the tourism sector, including the differences between cab aggregators and local tourist taxi operators.
“If we don’t put a system in place, we will see dark days in the tourism sector. There will be a further decline in tourism if we don’t fix these issues,” he said.
