“Please do not photograph our homes!” plead Goa’s homeowners

To call Goa beautiful would be the grossest of understatements. Its nearly untamed greenery, expansive beaches and vibrant, stately buildings are a sight for sore eyes. And tourists can hardly resist the allure of photographing or getting photographed against the backdrop of colonial-era architecture. But how do Goa’s residents feel about the constant barrage of camera shutters going off around them?

Fed up of being the backdrop

North Goan headquarters Panjim is a bustling hub of activity, its “Latin Quarter” a particular favourite for tourists looking to take in São Tomé and Fontainhas. It’s pretty commonplace to see people posing in front of these lanes to get that perfect Instagram shot. Sadly, this relentless influx of visitors has transformed the once peaceful neighbourhood into a noisy and intrusive environment for its residents.

In recent times, many Goan residents have started to keep their doors and windows tightly shut, trying to shield themselves from the noise and constant disruptions. A walk around Panjim would reveal a number of residential buildings sporting a “No Photography/Videography” sign, but these are often ignored by tourists who brazenly pose next to them. The blatant disregard for the residents' privacy by some tourists has led to frequent confrontations, leaving locals frustrated and fed up.

If it were just one or two tourists coming once every month and photographing your house, you would feel happy to let them. But when hundreds come every single day, it becomes a nuisance, rues a Panjim resident.

Invasive tourism

The situation has escalated to the point where the charm of living in these historic neighbourhoods is overshadowed by the daily challenges posed by “invasive tourism”, a term often used to characterise the negative impacts of mass tourism on local communities and ecosystems. It often involves large numbers of tourists who visit destinations without respecting local customs, cultures, or environments. While concerns around the erosion of traditional ways of life have been long-standing among the Goans, fears of a growing threat to their privacy are also coming to the forefront now.

Residents report that photographers often instruct their clients to block traffic for the sake of a shot, while others casually walk into private homes, uninvited. The heritage of São Tomé and Fontainhas is rich and deeply rooted in history, but for many tourists, the area is merely a backdrop for their social media feeds. This disregard for the cultural and historical significance of the neighbourhood is also a source of ongoing resentment among the locals.

As the tourism boom shows no signs of slowing down across Goa, the residents of Panjim's Latin Quarter are left grappling with the consequences. While tourism brings economic benefits, it also poses a threat to the integrity and peace of these historic neighbourhoods. For the residents, the need for a balance between welcoming visitors and preserving their way of life has never been more urgent.

Tourists must endeavour to be more responsible and empathetic during their travels as well. Maybe then, Goa will continue to remain the haven for the weary that it is and not turn into a hostile territory that dislikes tourists.