What’s behind the slump in Goa Tourism

A significant drop in foreign tourist arrivals in Goa has been noticed post COVID-19 as the number of overseas visitors to the state is yet to match the pre-pandemic levels.

The decline in number of foreign visitors has badly affected the tourism sector – the mainstay of the state’s economy. Several factors, including transport, security, cost of services, infrastructure issues, and geopolitical tensions, are contributing to this shift, impacting businesses badly.

Data shows, that in 2019, Goa welcomed nearly 9.4 lakh foreign tourists, but by November 2023, this figure dropped to just 4.03 lakh. It represents a nearly 60 percent decrease in foreign tourist numbers over a span of just a few years. In particular, the year 2022 saw an 82 percent decline in foreign tourist arrivals compared to 2018.

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Taxi ‘mafia’ irritating foreign and domestic tourists

One of the factors behind the falling numbers in Goa’s tourism sector seems to be the dominance of ‘taxi mafias’. They control the majority of taxi services across the state and have made a bad name for themselves by exploiting both tourists and local residents.

They are notorious for their inflated fare rates and refusal to follow guidelines and regulations set up by the government. For tourists, especially foreigners, this often leads to unpleasant experiences, with several of them feeling overcharged and exploited.

Reports say that some of the tourists have even reported incidents of intimidation when trying to negotiate fares or when taxi drivers refuse service altogether unless they agree to exorbitant prices.

“Once in Goa, we gave a lift to a foreigner tourist in our car. Some taxi guy stopped us and asked us to get him down, or they would break the car. Goa tourism is ruined majorly by how the taxi mafia behaves. Interesting case study. This never happened in Pushkar or Udaipur,” a person posted on X.

The lack of common online taxi services like Ola and Uber exacerbates the situation. Without app-based ride-hailing options, tourists are left to rely on local taxis, where fare transparency is often a significant issue.

Unlike in cities where services like Ola and Uber operate with set fares and tracking, tourists in Goa often have no choice but to accept the inflated prices set by taxi drivers, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.

The issue has had a direct impact on the overall tourist experience in Goa. Visitors are forced to rely on these operators for transportation, as public transport options are limited. The absence of reliable, affordable, and transparent transportation options makes it difficult for visitors to get around.

The inflated costs and occasional hostile behavior of taxi drivers have led to negative reviews, which spread rapidly online and damaged Goa’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination.

In another post, one of the ‘X’ users shared that Goa’s taxi mafia is responsible for it 100%.

A number of tourists who have encountered these issues often express frustration on social media and travel forums, deterring potential visitors from coming to Goa.

Some even choose alternative destinations where transportation is more affordable, regulated, and accessible through digital platforms.

Local tourism stakeholders argue that addressing the issue of taxi mafias and introducing app-based taxi services is crucial for Goa’s recovery.

Without a more transparent and efficient transportation system, it will be difficult to restore the confidence of foreign tourists who have many options for international travel.

The introduction of services like Ola and Uber could help regulate fares, reduce the power of the mafia, and improve the overall visitor experience, making Goa a more attractive destination for global travelers.

Tension among nations and ongoing wars impacted travel

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, along with the unrest in Gaza, has largely impacted the flow of tourists from these regions.

For example, before the pandemic, Goa saw five charter flights per day from Russia. That frequency has reduced drastically, with only a handful of flights landing each week, a report said.

Similarly, Goa once attracted numerous Israeli tourists, but due to the unstable political climate in the Middle East, charter flights from Israel have also been shelved.

Despite these hurdles, Goa still remains hopeful that it can attract tourists from other emerging markets, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which have started contributing modestly to tourist numbers.

Domestic tourism

The silver lining for Goa has been the surge in domestic tourism, which has helped offset some of the losses from international visitors. In 2019, Goa hosted around 80.6 million domestic tourists, a number that was sharply reduced in 2020 due to the pandemic but rebounded to 76.1 million by 2023.

However, despite the influx of domestic tourists, local operators argue that the longer stays and higher spending of foreign tourists are crucial to maintaining the financial health of Goa’s tourism sector.

Foreign tourists tend to stay for extended periods, frequent more premium accommodations, and contribute to a greater share of the revenue compared to domestic visitors.

Stakeholders seek urgent intervention from authorities

With the loss of foreign tourists, local businesses are calling for urgent government intervention to address the ongoing challenges. People involved in the business want measures such as reducing visa fees and landing charges at airports and simplifying the visa-on-arrival process.

These steps, they argue, would make Goa more competitive with other destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which offer lower costs and better infrastructure.