Goa’s reputation as India’s ultimate party destination is a relatively recent development. Reflecting on this transformation, boAt co-founder and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta shared memories of his early visits to Anjuna Beach in the early 2000s — a time when the state’s tourism landscape looked very different. Speaking on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast, the 43-year-old entrepreneur said:
“At Anjuna Beach, only Israelis were given a place. I remember, this was a Goa where Indians did not get a place to stay as Israelis used to lead that place. All these Goan people actually did not respect Indians that much,” Gupta recalled.
According to him, forest parties—a hallmark of Goa’s underground scene—were secretive and dominated by international guests.
“These parties, they were such parties that we didn’t know the venue. We would take our scooter and ask our foreigner friends, ‘Aaj party kahan hai?’” he said, adding, “In 2000, Bamboo Forest was very popular in Goa.”
Gupta noted that during those times, Indian tourists were rare—often just a handful in large gatherings.
“This time, when we used to go to Goa, there were no Indians. We were the only Indians there at Bamboo Forest parties,” he said.
Fast forward to today, and the scene has dramatically changed. Indian travelers are now not only visible but form the backbone of Goa’s tourism economy.
“If you see today, Indians can pay more than anybody else. So India has evolved and Indian tourists are also welcomed now,” Gupta added, pointing to the rise in domestic travel and spending power.
However, despite this evolution, Goa’s tourism sector has seen a sharp decline in recent months. The Shack Owners Welfare Society reports that after a strong start to the 2024–25 season, tourist numbers plummeted by mid-March. Domestic arrivals dropped by nearly 60%, while international arrivals fell by 40%. Popular beach destinations like Colva, Majorda, and Calangute have witnessed early closures of several shacks. With British tourists typically leaving by March-end and only a small number of Russian visitors lingering, businesses are facing a tough off-season.