Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa’s reputation as a tourist destination took another hit after members of a UK-based family, who were in the State for a wedding, had a ‘horrible experience’, as they complained of being harassed by the local taxi operators outside a resort
in Varca.
They claimed that the incident occurred after they booked private taxis online to take them to the airport for their return journey on April 17, just before their connecting flight from Gujarat to the UK. The tourists alleged that their vehicles were blocked, their drivers were intimidated, while the resort staff chose not to intervene.
According to one of the male tourists, they had booked four to five taxis online, but local drivers stopped them as they tried to leave the resort.
“They blocked all of our cars. They started banging on the windows, arguing with the drivers, saying they would harm their families. This isn’t how guests should be treated,” he said.
“We should be able to get our own taxis like anywhere else in the world. But it seems there’s some sort of cartel system here — you have to use only their taxis, and they can charge whatever they like,” he said.
He claimed that the drivers they had booked were ultimately allowed to leave only after paying Rs 5,000 to those drivers, allegedly from the taxi
stand there, who were blocking the way.
The incident has since gained widespread attention after video recordings taken by family members inside the taxis were uploaded onto social media platforms. The viral videos have sparked outrage online, with many expressing concerns about the impact on Goa’s tourism industry and calling for strict action from authorities against such harassment the tourists face at the hand of local taxi operators when they book their own private
taxis.
The bride’s mother, visibly distressed, is heard to say, “These people gave us such a nightmare, horrible experience. They would not let us travel properly. And there is a high chance that we’re going to miss our flight. This is bad. Not good for India.
Not good for Goa. Not good for any guests who are planning to come here.”
She explained they had come to Goa on April 17 for her daughter’s wedding, and were returning to the UK via Gujarat. “We booked a private taxi as we felt comfortable. We didn’t want to book with the hotel.”
Her daughter said, “It was a horrible experience. It was a bit scary with all the people fighting outside the hotel. The hotel staff didn’t help us at all. No one came to assist or get involved. All this was happening right outside their property.”
Describing how, over the previous few days, they found it difficult to get private taxis in Goa, the male tourist said, “They want you to pay exhorbitant rates. And if you don't book from their stand, they cause trouble. You have to get their taxis, only their taxis, and they can charge you whatever they like.”
This is not the first time a visiting tourist has complained about being harassed by local taxi operators if they choose to book an online taxi on their own. While there have also been complaints about the performance of online taxi aggregators in Goa, the big concern amongst those who have experienced these issues is that they are being forced to take a decision and not allowed any choice.
Tourists in the group emphasised that the incident reflected poorly on Goa and even the country’s reputation as a tourist destination.
Meanwhile, the private taxi operators who had been hired by the family denied any wrongdoing. The operators said they were directly booked by the guests and had not come to the hotel to solicit customers.
“We were only there to pick up the passengers who had booked with us,” said a driver. “The fight started when we were stopped by them (the Varca taxi drivers who have a local taxi stand near the resort). We didn’t start anything — we were defending ourselves and asking why we were being blocked.”
Cabbies booked for unlawful assembly, abuse and extortion
MARGAO: Colva Police have registered an offence against a group of cabbies for forming an unlawful assembly, restraining tourist taxi drivers booked by the guests, abusing guests and extorting Rs 5,000 for releasing the vehicle outside a resort at Varca.
In his complaint on behalf of the State, Colva PSI Prashant S Bhagat stated that on April 17, Oliveiro Fernandes, Brito Fernandes, Remy Rodrigues, driver Sanjay (full name unknown), Seby, Vice President of Tourist Taxi Association Varca, full name unknown), and other local taxi drivers formed an unlawful assembly near the resort entrance at Pedda-Varca at around 3 pm.
The complaint further stated that the accused allegedly restrained tourist taxi drivers booked by the resort guests, who were there to pick them up for an airport drop-off. The accused also allegedly abused the taxi drivers and hotel guests and extorted Rs 5,000 for releasing the tourist vehicle, due to the guests choosing another tourist taxi for the airport drop.
Colva Police registered the offence under sections of BNS.
PSI Bhagat is investigating the case.