Barely a few days after he triggered controversy by calling for a ban on lamani tribesmen, Goa Tourism Minister Babu Ajgaonkar has now trained his guns on drunken tourists, accusing them of ruining Goa’s culture.
Speaking to reporters during the birth anniversary celebrations of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the State capital, Ajgaonkar said that he would try to woo back electronic dance music festivals back to Goa in order to boost tourism.
“The outsiders who come here, create chaos after they drink. They ruin our culture, our Goenkarponn (Goanness). That should not happen. This should be controlled,” Ajgaonkar said.
The Tourism Ministry, he said, would crack down severely on tourists indulging in drunken revellery and outrage in public.
Goa receives more than four million tourists every year, nearly half a million of which are foreign nationals.
While the State is already a top beach tourism and nightlife tourism destination in the country, the liberal excise regime in Goa has made the State the go-to place for tourists for consumption and purchase of liquor, making alcohol another major draw for tourism.
Ajgaonkar however claims that tourists need to control themselves after consuming drinks.
“You cannot behave like this after getting drunk. You cannot spoil it for everyone around you,” Ajgaonkar said.
The Tourism Minister also said that liquor and music were a part of the Goan culture and it needed to be preserved and the dignity of the culture needed to be maintained.
“liquor, music is a part of our culture. It has been going on in a traditional way. It cannot be stopped just like that. liquor is also a part of our tradition, our Goenkarponn,” Ajgaonkar said.
“In Goa, if there is stomach pain, people still warm up alcohol and drink it... But Goans when they drink alcohol, they do not lose control. Even if a Goan drinks alcohol, the next person will not know he has consumed liquor. He will not show it,” the Minister said.
Ajgaonkar also said that he would try to bring back musical events like Sunburn and VH1 Supersonic, which had relocated outside Goa, after the State Government denied them permission to hold the event last year.
“We will try to get them back. It will help the tourism industry,” Ajgaonkar said.
last week, Ajgaonkar had triggered controversy after he demanded a ban on lamani tribesfolk, accusing them of ruining Goan culture by aggressively hawking ware on Goa’s beaches.