Goa’s ambitious Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) bus service was launched with promises of transforming tourism in the state. Marketed as an international-style sightseeing experience, the service featured open-top double-decker buses, multilingual audio guides and fixed tourism circuits connecting popular destinations across North Goa. But less than a decade later, the once-hyped project has virtually disappeared from Goa’s roads, with several buses now lying abandoned in Baga.
- What Was the HOHO Bus Service?
- GTDC’s Second Attempt Also Failed
- Why Did the HOHO Bus Service Fail?
- Goa’s Tourists Prefer Freedom Over Fixed Routes
- High Operational Costs
- Infrastructure Challenges
- Revenue Problems and Poor Planning
- From Tourism Dream to Rusting Relic
- What Was the HOHO Bus Service?
- GTDC’s Second Attempt Also Failed
- Why Did the HOHO Bus Service Fail?
- Goa’s Tourists Prefer Freedom Over Fixed Routes
- High Operational Costs
- Revenue Problems and Poor Planning
- From Tourism Dream to Rusting Relic
What Was the HOHO Bus Service?
The HOHO — short for “Hop-On Hop-Off” — service was first introduced by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) in 2017 through Pune-based operator Prasanna Purple. Inspired by sightseeing buses in cities like London and Dubai, the concept allowed tourists to board and exit buses at multiple tourist locations using a single ticket.
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The buses operated routes connecting Panjim, Miramar, Dona Paula, Old Goa, Mangueshi Temple and later even Vagator and Atal Setu. Some coaches were open-top double deckers designed to offer scenic coastal views, while others were air-conditioned with GPS tracking and multilingual commentary systems.
GTDC’s Second Attempt Also Failed
After the initial operator exited, GTDC revived the project in February 2023 under a Public-Private Partnership with Gurgaon-based Prive Tourism Private Limited. Five upgraded buses, including two double-deckers, were introduced with much fanfare.
However, the excitement never translated into passenger numbers.
By late 2025, the service had effectively collapsed again. A former company official admitted that the operation became financially unsustainable due to low ridership and high maintenance costs. Despite introducing international-standard features, the operator said the HOHO concept simply “was not accepted by the people.”
Why Did the HOHO Bus Service Fail?
Goa’s Tourists Prefer Freedom Over Fixed Routes
One of the biggest reasons behind the failure was Goa’s tourism culture itself. Unlike metro cities where tourists prefer guided city tours, Goa attracts visitors looking for flexibility and spontaneity.
Most tourists prefer renting scooters, motorcycles or self-drive cars instead of following fixed bus schedules. Travelers often want to stop at beaches, cafés and roadside shacks whenever they choose — something the HOHO model could not offer.
High Operational Costs
Running open-top buses in Goa proved expensive. Fuel costs, staff salaries, fleet management and regular maintenance quickly piled up. The coastal weather also accelerated wear and tear on the buses.
Infrastructure Challenges
Goa’s narrow roads, low-hanging electricity wires and tree branches created operational difficulties for double-decker buses. Even before the launch, authorities reportedly had to trim trees and shift cables along parts of the route.
Revenue Problems and Poor Planning
GTDC later revealed that the private operator stopped paying the committed annual revenue share of Rs 12 lakh for two consecutive years. The Corporation eventually forfeited the operator’s Rs 15 lakh performance bank guarantee and initiated recovery proceedings.
Critics argue the biggest failure was the lack of proper market research. Despite the first collapse, the project was revived without seriously studying whether Goa’s tourism ecosystem was suited for a scheduled sightseeing bus service.
From Tourism Dream to Rusting Relic
Today, the abandoned HOHO buses parked in Baga stand as symbols of another tourism experiment that failed to connect with Goa’s ground reality. While the idea looked attractive on paper, the service struggled against Goa’s free-spirited travel culture, operational costs and weak public response.
For now, Goa’s tourists continue choosing rented bikes and flexible road trips over hopping on and off government sightseeing buses.
Goa’s ambitious Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) bus service was launched with promises of transforming tourism in the state. Marketed as an international-style sightseeing experience, the service featured open-top double-decker buses, multilingual audio guides and fixed tourism circuits connecting popular destinations across North Goa. But less than a decade later, the once-hyped project has virtually disappeared from Goa’s roads, with several buses now lying abandoned in Baga.
What Was the HOHO Bus Service?
The HOHO — short for “Hop-On Hop-Off” — service was first introduced by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) in 2017 through Pune-based operator Prasanna Purple. Inspired by sightseeing buses in cities like London and Dubai, the concept allowed tourists to board and exit buses at multiple tourist locations using a single ticket.
The buses operated routes connecting Panjim, Miramar, Dona Paula, Old Goa, Mangueshi Temple and later even Vagator and Atal Setu. Some coaches were open-top double deckers designed to offer scenic coastal views, while others were air-conditioned with GPS tracking and multilingual commentary systems.
GTDC’s Second Attempt Also Failed
After the initial operator exited, GTDC revived the project in February 2023 under a Public-Private Partnership with Gurgaon-based Prive Tourism Private Limited. Five upgraded buses, including two double-deckers, were introduced with much fanfare.
However, the excitement never translated into passenger numbers.
By late 2025, the service had effectively collapsed again. A former company official admitted that the operation became financially unsustainable due to low ridership and high maintenance costs. Despite introducing international-standard features, the operator said the HOHO concept simply “was not accepted by the people.”
Why Did the HOHO Bus Service Fail?
Goa’s Tourists Prefer Freedom Over Fixed Routes
One of the biggest reasons behind the failure was Goa’s tourism culture itself. Unlike metro cities where tourists prefer guided city tours, Goa attracts visitors looking for flexibility and spontaneity.
Most tourists prefer renting scooters, motorcycles or self-drive cars instead of following fixed bus schedules. Travelers often want to stop at beaches, cafés and roadside shacks whenever they choose — something the HOHO model could not offer.
High Operational Costs
Running open-top buses in Goa proved expensive. Fuel costs, staff salaries, fleet management and regular maintenance quickly piled up. The coastal weather also accelerated wear and tear on the buses.
Goa’s narrow roads, low-hanging electricity wires and tree branches created operational difficulties for double-decker buses. Even before the launch, authorities reportedly had to trim trees and shift cables along parts of the route.
Revenue Problems and Poor Planning
GTDC later revealed that the private operator stopped paying the committed annual revenue share of Rs 12 lakh for two consecutive years. The Corporation eventually forfeited the operator’s Rs 15 lakh performance bank guarantee and initiated recovery proceedings.
Critics argue the biggest failure was the lack of proper market research. Despite the first collapse, the project was revived without seriously studying whether Goa’s tourism ecosystem was suited for a scheduled sightseeing bus service.
From Tourism Dream to Rusting Relic
Today, the abandoned HOHO buses parked in Baga stand as symbols of another tourism experiment that failed to connect with Goa’s ground reality. While the idea looked attractive on paper, the service struggled against Goa’s free-spirited travel culture, operational costs and weak public response.
For now, Goa’s tourists continue choosing rented bikes and flexible road trips over hopping on and off government sightseeing buses.
