Dismantling the Tourism Mirage in Maria Aurora Couto's Goa: A Daughter's Story

Abstract

The present paper, titled “Dismantling the Tourism Mirage in Maria Aurora Couto’s Goa: A Daughter’s Story”, tries to unpick the darker landscapes of tourism, by exploring its effects. The memoir describes in detail, the destruction caused by tourism on the society of Goa, and the deteriorating living conditions. Sustainable tourism in literature means the critique and evaluation of tourism practises, in texts, in terms of their cultural, socioeconomic, environmental impact and the motive for practising sustainable tourism. It is based on principles of sustainability, like minimising damage to the environment, preserving local culture, and promoting equity. In Maria Aurora Couto’s, Goa: A Daughter’s Story, the environmental and cultural erosion resulting from unbridled tourism is depicted with a description of how it has affected the identity and socio-economic fabric of Goa. The paper discusses how sustainable tourism theory can be applied, to inform and highlight adverse effects of tourism, while suggesting sustainable practices that can be considered.