PANJIM: Almost a decade ago, Goa’s Tourism industry woke up to the possibility of selling ‘raindrops’ to beach-loving domestic tourists, in a bid to promote Goa’s scenic hinterlands during the monsoon.
Several new attractions were introduced by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) to lure tourists during the rainy months, and while the coastal State did record impressive footfalls a few years ago, the ongoing off-season does not seem to be in the industry’s favour.
With countries like Thailand and Turkey re-opening their borders to tourists in a big way; and Coorg, Ooty and other hilly locations in the South promoting their green landscape, sprawling plantations, forests, and waterfalls, Goa seems to be lagging behind as a monsoon destination.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Chairman Nilesh Shah said the current hotel occupancy in Goa has shown a slight decline, from 67 per cent last month to 65 per cent this month.
“The business could definitely be better. Other places have opened for tourists in a big way. Thailand’s hotel rates are very reasonable which compensates for the airfares. Similarly, Turkey and Egypt have jumped in the fray again,” he told Herald.
Goa’s weekend scene is still promising, with up to 68 per cent occupancy, he added.
The arrivals, however, have by and large dropped drastically with other domestic destinations cashing in on the rains.
A resort owner in Ooty said, “We are getting inquiries and bookings are almost full during the week and weekends. If there are slots open, we call back the concerned person interested to spend a holiday on our property.”
Thailand, a popular ‘budget’ international destination among Indians, is also giving Goa tough competition. “Thailand is not just for solo travellers or couples anymore, several Indian families are also holidaying there. Easy visa availability, reasonably priced stay, and an excellent public transport system give Thailand an edge over Goa,” said a student who just returned from a vacation in Bangkok.
A Margao resident who recently visited Thailand also echoed that the country is now flooded with Indian tourists. “Clean beaches, systematically-planned tourist attractions, and a pollution-free environment is the USP. Indian tourists shell out an equal amount or perhaps a little more to holiday in Goa, as against Thailand, where they get even better services and perks. This is the reason Goa is losing out to Thai destinations,” he said.
Goa Adventures Club, which organises domestic and international tours, suggested that the unexplored parts of Goa should be sustainably developed to attract tourists. “Not just Thailand, but the Maldives is also on the travel bucket list for Indians this year. The demand for eco-tourism in Goa during the monsoon would increase if we get luxurious resorts set up in the ghat regions, which boast of wildlife. The unexplored beauty of Goa needs to be explored too,” GAC Founder Ahraz Mulla told Herald.
Stakeholders are however hopeful that tourist footfalls would increase in the coming months, and the arrival of foreign tourists in October marks the beginning of the tourism season in the State. TTAG has also been pushing the State government to ensure e-visas for charter tourists and for UK travellers in order to escalate the scale of arrivals. “The ministry is aware, and we hope the hurdles around the e-visa would be done away with, for the benefit of travellers and for Goa’s tourism industry,” Shah said.
