11 Apr 2021  |   05:53am IST

Goa’s pandemic draw: A WFH hotspot

There was a trend of people shifting to Goa to work from villas or flats for their companies in other parts of the country. Now with the second wave, is this trend still on and have the people who came in just after the first lockdown still around?
Goa’s pandemic draw: A WFH hotspot

Ajit John

Technology today has made life

easier in ways not imaginable earlier. From buying anything online to shifting residences across states one has to only visit groups on platforms like Facebook to realise how easy it is to achieve this. Various groups like Homes for a while Goa, Goa Rental and Offbeat Goa stays are active with people posting information about villas and apartments available all over the state. These groups also provide an avenue for those interested in shifting to Goa to write about their requirements. This is certainly changing the game. It is making it easier for those with an apartment to connect with those interested in staying on rent. The surge in the virus across states has increased activity on these groups. Mid level and senior executives seem keen to shift to Goa and work here. Are brokers now out of the way and has the movement of people to Goa now plateaued.

Everyone’s looking at furnished studios , 1BHK or 2BHKs mainly.in Assagao Anjuna, Arpora and Siolim with hi speed wifi as an absolute must. And there are so.e high emd leases who want villas with pools. And there’s something for everyone. One person’s second home is now another person’s work from home space.

Joan Crasto resident of Mumbai now living in Goa in Tivim said she was enquiries from people in metros who were interested in shifting to Goa for a couple of months. She said “We usually give it for a month or two usually to people from Mumbai or Bengaluru or other cities. Sometimes it could be couple who want to work from Goa. We are getting a lot of enquiries. It’s really bad in Mumbai and people want to shift here for the clean air, the absence of pollution and the sense of freedom one experiences in Goa. They all insist on a good wifi connection which is mandatory because of the demands of work.”

Another major player in this business of providing accommodation to visitor to Goa who agreed to speak on the condition his name was not mentioned said business was good. He said “There are a lot of people working from apartments in Goa for corporates across the country. They prefer to work in Goa because of the freedom they experience in Goa. There are executives across industries and most of them are mid level and senior executives. Yes, the numbers have decreased as compared to six months ago. They would like to live near the coast but it could be anywhere which can guarantee them a very good wifi connection. People look to stay for six months or longer. They are usually in the 25 to 40 year category of either sex. Never had anyone over fifty asking for accommodation”. He said there were also families shifting and looking for villas which were another segment of the market.

Rohan Shah a program manager from Andheri West in Mumbai shifted to a one bedroom house in Vagator two and a half months ago. He said “In Mumbai it is tight, I wanted some space basically I needed to get away. I decided to move here. I stay alone, it is nice here. Its great work life balance. I don’t know for how long I intend to stay here but I am sure it will be for a couple of months or even longer depending on the evolving situation. The wifi is great and it is fully furnished. I am happy here personally I don’t want to go back. It is so peaceful. ”

Another happy resident of Goa is Sharmistha Bhadra a senior executive of insurance major based in Mumbai. She shifted to Goa last year and has felt comfortable. She said she intended to stay put and did not intend to return to Mumbai this year. She said “My organization is very trusting and we have systems and it feels nice to live here and work and enjoy life.”

Karan Sethi a entrepreneur in the travel media space moved last year to Goa and does not intend to return to Mumbai. He said “I can do my job out of any place and is there a better place than Goa. Right now I am staying in Anjuna and planning on shifting to Panjim. The lock down was the motivation for me to shift here. It is better here without a doubt. I have strong contacts in the industry and I can get it done sitting in Goa”.

The virus has certainly affected life and has also opened new avenues in different industries. This trend of people shifting to Goa looks like it will persist for some time.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar