Drop in foreigners affects tourism in Bogmalo

Drop in foreigners affects tourism in Bogmalo
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CORTALIM, DEC 5
The tourism activity in the tiny beach of Bogmalo has taken a severe beating with a drastic drop of foreign tourist arrivals this year.
With the State already in the midst of tourism season, the beach has witnessed shortfall of more than 80 per cent of tourists.
Eating joints, shops selling handicrafts have been complaining of low tourist inflow as a result of which their business has slacken.
John Henriques, who runs a Seagull restaurant for over 20 years, complained that this season has been very bad.
Henriques attributed this to low turnout of tourists in starred hotels which has affected their business. “If starred hotels, resorts located on the beaches have tourists, then we can expect business as it is mostly these tourists who patronise our shacks,” informed Henriques. Only solace is the arrivals of local and Indian tourists, he said.
Henriques also accused some private taxi operators of fleecing tourists. “The other day, a private taxi operator charged Rs 700 from the airport to the beach which is only 4 kms distance,” Henriques informed and said that there were many such type of instances.
Steven D’Cruz who runs Stiff Waves restaurant and Domnick D’Cruz proprietor of Dom’s Sea Cuisine also informed Herald that their business had dropped by over 80 per cent.
TTAG President Gaurish Dhond however denied that there was any significant drop in tourist arrivals. He said that Bogmalo beach is not a highly frequented beach for foreigners.
Bush Miranda who is from the travel industry said the government has to take some corrective steps soon to boost tourism.
He said that airlines handling charges in Goa was very high, hotel accommodation is expensive compared to Thailand, Sri Lanka and other South East Asian countries, beaches are dirty, problems of TLP’s (Temporary Landing Permits) and tourist taxis problems were some of the issues that were needed to be resolved.