Bollywood beats driving away foreigners, says ex-MLA

Calangute: Loud Bollywood music in beach shacks sublet by locals to outsiders, which attracts domestic tourists in Goa, is keeping away foreign tourists, says former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes.

Talking to the media at Candolim on Saturday, Fernandes, who owns resorts, said: “Indian tourists visit Goa for its Western culture and foreign visitors. If you play Bollywood music, then foreigners will stop coming to Goa, and when foreign tourists are no longer there, Indian tourists will also stop coming.”

“At Candolim, most shops and shacks are run by outsiders. Some shacks have huge sound systems, and foreigners rarely visit these shacks because of loud Bollywood music. Locals can’t compete with those who install sound systems costing Rs 5 lakh, so they sublet,” he said.

“It will look good now. When foreigners and domestic tourists stop coming, tourism and beach shack culture will die. Then there won’t be anything left,” he said.

He said the recent controversy over assaults and murder of tourists in beach shacks is linked to the influx of low-end domestic tourists drinking openly in Calangute-Candolim beach. “Groups of male tourists bring bottles to the beach. When it is over, they go to shacks to have more and behave rudely with staff, leading to conflicts. Goans are not going to tolerate this kind of behaviour,” he said, adding, “Since more people work in shacks, the tourists get beaten up in a tussle. It’s unfortunate.”

“The old ambience is gone. Women once walked alone on Candolim beach at night. Now, 10-15 men might chase them for photos or attempt molestation,” he said.