We have been coming to Goa for around 16 years and after the first time we came and fell in love with the place and it`s people and we have visited Goa every season since. From a 2 week stay the first time and building up to 6 month stays.
We are just ordinary working class people from the UK. We have seen many changes some good some not so good, but we still love the place and it`s people.
But Goa, you are fast becoming expense and we cannot afford the price and the red tape to get a visa. The price of flights and Hotels on top of this has put many of our friends off from returning.
The taxi drivers who constantly over charge, the garbage it is all getting too much.
We had some friends who came for the first time for the Xmas/New Year period. They have a 2 week holiday the same time every year because of work commitments.
They were charged £4700 for 2 weeks all inclusive for 2 people in Baga plus Visa at £100 each. How can this filter through to any other business in Goa when they never eat or drink out of their hotel.
They will never return although they liked Goa. Nobody had told them that the Baga road was such a mess or that they would be harassed by taxi drivers constantly if they ever leave their hotel.
Last night I visited a local restaurant in Calangute with some friends for a meal and we were asked to pay Rs 100 for parking on the street.
Needless to say we left and went elsewhere. The owner of the restaurant was not happy at all.
I think that if you take a good look back at the tourist that have come to Goa over the last 2 decades you will find quite a lot that return year after year are English.
But over the last couple of seasons all you hear from the hard core English is that Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand are their destinations for next year.
Come on Goa. Embrace the English, give them a reasonable price visa and flights and they will return.
