MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
VIBHA VERMA
PANJIM: Not every tourist you see in Goa may be on vacation. The COVID-19 pandemic is redefining the meaning of a vacation. After having messed up almost everyone’s holiday plans, by keeping people indoors for a considerable period, the pandemic has given rise to a new trend of a working vacation or ‘workcation’, and Goa appears to be benefitting from this.
As the world slowly comes to grips with the new normal, and India has lifted almost all restrictions, several working establishments continue to follow work from home protocols.
And, that’s where Goa benefits. Those who can afford it and cannot resist the idea of a vacation have brought their offices, or rather their laptops, to Goa, booked into villas, hotel rooms and are working remotely from the palm-fringed State. For them work from home has taken a new meaning to be work from hotel.
Take for instance Rohini Khare, a senior IT professional working at a Europe-based company in Pune. She and four colleagues have moved to an independent house in Anjuna from where they are working while also enjoying the charms that the coastal village, a tourism hotspot, offers. Although the village is now crowded, she feels this is a far better arrangement than congested Pune.
“I am not in Goa for the first time. I am often here on shorts trip either with my family or friends. This time, the purpose is both – work and vacation. Since our firm has allowed us to work remotely till January-end, we decided to move in and work amidst Goa’s serenity,” she told Herald.
Khare and her colleagues are in Goa for over a month and have signed a contract with the house owner till mid-January 2021.
Similarly, Raghu N, a Chief Strategy Officer with a noted firm in Hyderabad, has checked into a villa at Assagao till December-end. For him, Goa has always been on the cards and this year’s plan was almost crushed until the company decided that employees would work from home for an indefinite period.
“We compulsorily hold daily meetings and interact with our employees. The work goes on. Since the office is shut for an undecided period, I decided to opt for working from Goa,” Raghu said, adding that he often finishes work and goes for a walk or unwinds at one of his favourite joints.
Besides hiring independent houses, villas and living in Airbnb places, some have checked into luxury hotels and resorts. Interestingly, resorts are the preference of working professionals, although it might not be for a long duration.
Working from Hotel is also a new Work from Home for many.
Vincent Ramos, Area Director – IHCL, Goa and General Manager – Taj Hotel & Convention Centre, Goa has said that their clients also include those who have made the hotel their co-working space. Goa is a perfect destination.
“We have introduced a range of experiences for various segments, including Bizcation among others. For those looking to escape the confines of home and maximize work from rejuvenating environs, Bizcation is a popular choice giving guests the option of working in a calm, safe, comfortable and hygienic environment, while spending quality time with family and indulging in unique and immersive local experiences,” he said.
Whispering Palms Beach Resorts at Candolim states that tourism is fortunate to have seen an upward trend after months of poor business, but emphasised that it needs to sustain. Hotel vice president Jacob John revealed that he gets working professionals and leisure clients among others in their four-star resort.
“Tourism is picking up considering what we went through in the recent past. But it needs to sustain,” he said, adding, “Most of our guests are leisure clients. They are mostly driving down to Goa. There are many who have also come down with their families on a vacation.”
While those from the category of work from home are booking their space for about a month or so, John admitted encountering senior managers of corporate companies operating from rental premises.
The new trend has brought some solace to a sector that suffered with the pandemic restrictions, but numbers are comparatively lower than those in other years.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Nilesh Shah said Goa has always been a second home for professionals at the top level of many firms across India and the world.
“Vacation packages are doing quite well in Goa, and many hotels have had good business to start with. There are many who have second homes in Goa, so they have checked into those premises. Overall business has benefited but not to the extent we can imagine because Goa was always a second home destination for many heads of companies like MDs GMs, vice presidents, etc.” he said.
Shah also claimed that in many hotels, people did check in for long periods of a month or two but they are now moving back as their home towns are gradually opening-up. “But those opportunities will be there in Goa,” he added.
