This year, we have seen a decline of Russian tourists visiting Goa. One of the reasons behind the decline of English tourists is increase in visa charges. Secondly most of the repeater tourists are less because prices of food are much higher compared to few years back. Accommodation has also increased and repeaters are long stay and budgeted guests, so to spend long time is not possible for them.
Infrastructure is another issue, bad state of roads, mushrooming of slums near airport and towns gives a bad impression to our State. Garbage along our roads which gives a foul smell, bovines walking in the middle of the road and blocking the busy traffic which can cause a major accident. There is poor public transport available. The condition of buses is very miserable and there is no public transport available in the night. Rickshaws and taxis doesn’t have meters and if some of them have it is not working. They have their own prices which is much higher compared to any where in India.
Goa is famous and was known as ‘Rome of East’ because of its unique churches and its architect. But apart from churches, temples and beaches we have not developed other places, specially the hinterlands. So tourists cannot see much variety here while we have some Spice Plantations, Waterfall, Fort Aguada etc. Our coastal belts are full with beach hawkers such as Lamanis and Gypsies. Foreigners come to swim and relax on the beaches but always disturbed by this sort of people. Tourists are not even safe with their bags or what they carry with them. Many robberies are taking place in small hotels and guest houses and for a women it is not safe to roam on the beach in the late evenings.
Beach restaurants and shacks are very highly priced. To be honest a lower budget guest from Europe cannot afford this price.
Today we are surviving on tourism because of Indian tourists and some of them are good spenders on alcohol, renting bikes and travelling by taxis. Last year many people in tourism have survived mainly because of some Indian tourists. Most of the beach shacks were closed last year by March end. It was a bad season for beach restaurants and if it continues in the same way this year will be even worst. We need to change our attitude and the tourism department should take important steps towards improving tourism in Goa and to increase foreign tourists.
