Why oh why is Goa and in particular the police seemingly hell-bent on putting more nails in the Goa tourism coffin?
We like many older long term visitors have been coming to Goa for many years spending our hard earned savings in the local economy and also like many fed up to the back teeth of being treated like some form of vermin.
I remember some years ago the tourism department stating they wanted to make Goa “a 5-star destination” (some joke!) and what has happened since? Only a massive decline in both standards and treatment. The police are behaving like the ex-communist Stasi and want to stop everyone on a motor scooter and demand money or a fine, I have no problem adhering to the law of using a helmet (with chinstrap fastened – unlike MOST locals) and carrying an IDP as well as my UK driving licence and other documents but the overt Racism and harassment shown by the police here is an utter disgrace and something akin to Robert Mugabe’s thugs in Zimbabwe!
When it comes to riding on the disgraceful coastal Goa roads which are reminiscent of a truly third world country one is taking one’s life into ones hands with taxi drivers racing to get from A to B without any consideration for anyone but themselves and obtaining their next fare.
Greedy landlords of rental apartments are putting up our rents far in excess of affordability and wonder why their rooms are vacant.
Do the powers that be not understand how the effects of modern day social media (Facebook, Twitter, Trip Advisor etc) work both in the positive sense and in Goa’s case negative?
We like many other Brits are seriously thinking of not returning to Goa again.
If we in the UK and Europe received tourists with the “welcome” we receive in Goa these days we would truly be branded extreme racists and tourism numbers would radically fall, no wonder so many Goans want to obtain Portuguese passports and leave for a better and safer life.
