The doyen of fake news Rajdeep Sardesai has embarrassed himself again on Twitter. Recently, he tweeted that Goa is witnessing a 30 per cent decline in footfalls of tourists this year. The reason offered by him to support his claims included high GST on hotels, and hiked fares. He further said, “Goa tourism simply failed to move to next level.. Goa has so much more to offer than a Phuket yet well behind in tourism…”
Goa is witnessing a 30 per cent decline in footfalls of tourists this year.. High GST on hotels, hiked airfares part of the problem.. larger issue: has Goa tourism simply failed to move to next level.. Goa has so much more to offer than a Phuket yet well behind in tourism..
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) December 30, 2018
In this age of social media, it’s very difficult to fool people but on the other hand, social media users are also very educated, they are quick to refute any baseless claim with proper facts. Rajdeep Sardesai’s claims have also met the same response. COO Vistara, Sanjiv Kapoor, tweeted that Goa loads have shown no sign of decline. He further said that in fact, they added more flights this year.
Our Goa loads have shown no sign of decline. In fact we added flights this year. https://t.co/QwgTccvNky
— Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) December 30, 2018
One Twitter user who goes by the name of Ashish Naredi asked Rajdeep Sardesai to reveal the source of his information. Ashish further said that he travelled to Goa this year that too during offseason and found all the hotels were full. He also said that he failed to get an Innova or Thar for self-drive. He also schooled Rajdeep on GST. Ashish said for companies it makes hotels cheaper as they can avail credit.
What is the source of info? I went to Goa in this year June, supposedly "Off-season." All hotels full!! Couldn't get an innova or Thar for self drive!! Ppl told me nowadays Goa is "Full year season."
As for GST, for companies it makes Hotels CHEAPER as they can avail credit!— Ashish Naredi (@naredi) December 30, 2018
He also checked stats from Goa Tourism website and found that 2017-18 showed a growth of 22.98%.
2/n As far as I have checked, official statistics are not yet released!! See the stats released here from Goa Tourism website. 2017-18 showed a 22.98 % growth! Where is the drop??? pic.twitter.com/ew0CmfiIcy
— Ashish Naredi (@naredi) December 30, 2018
One more Twitter user said that the biggest bane in Goa is not GST but the high taxi fare.
I think you haven't travelled Goa much…the biggest bane in Goa is not GST but the high taxi fare which fleece the customers big time…Try getting a taxi ride for a short distance & u will understand what I mean!
— Sandokan Panza (@joeywow30) December 30, 2018
Taxes on hotels have gone down. Transport & taxi mafia is a big contributor to the decline.
— karan kohli (@kkohli29) December 30, 2018
Nowadays, it has become a fashion to blame GST, cows, and PM Modi for each and every problem of India. Any person who rants against PM Modi and his policies gets ample media attention. In order to impress their bosses in their favourite party, journalists belonging to Lutyens’ media leave no stone unturned to spread malicious propaganda against the policies and decision of PM Modi.
According to a Business Standard report, in 2017, 7.8 million tourists visited Goa, double than the number four years ago, and five times more than the state’s 1.5 million population. The number of hotels has also increased significantly- doubling every 10 years. According to Goa department of tourism, the number of major hotels and resorts has increased 170 per cent from 42 in 2008 to 113 in 2018. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar projects the number of tourists at 10 million in 2020.
It’s not the first time that Rajdeep Sardesai has faced embarrassment for his nonsense analysis. In his 30 years long career of journalism, he has been confronted many times for his low quality journalism. 2002 fame journalist- Rajdeep Sardesai- is the epitome of everything that is wrong with Indian journalism. He is biased, hypocrite, propagandist and poses to be a charlatan.
For more details: Rajdeep Sardesai: 30 years of journalism, 30 ‘glorious’ moments
