Goa is one of the highest beach vacation destinations in the Republic and fascinates nearly seven million tourists, which includes more than half a million outsiders. And with such a huge number of people coming in, pollution at the beautiful beaches is unavoidable.
However, to discourse this issue of hasty garbage dumping in Goa, the government has come up with an exceptional initiative to make tourists more reliable of their actions and encourage them to clean up by offering beer in exchange for junk! This inventiveness started in late January 2019, when the state ministry set up Zanzibar shack at Baga beach – its first sanctioned pop-up ‘waste bar’ which will offer mind-blowing deals. For 10 beer bottle caps or 20 used cigarette butts, you can get a chilled beer or revitalising cocktail. Could there be something better?
Part of a larger movement called ‘TeraMeraBeach’, such waste bars will be set up at Calangute-Candolim beach twice a month for a limited duration only. Mostly between 4-6 pm in the evening. This campaign is being planned and managed by Drishti Marine, a beach management agency hired by the state government to make Goa cleaner.
According to reports, Noreen van Holstein, the co-creator of this campaign with Drishti Marine, told IANS that ‘The waste-bar is a win-win concept. It’s positive for the venue as it is a positive event that attracts a crowd. You get very happy customers as they feel they contribute to society and get a free drink for it. And for brands, it helps in positioning,’
While the inventiveness is distinctive and uplifting and will certainly attract eyeballs, the long-term usefulness of this concept is dubious.
