The fact that Maharashtra is soon going to have shacks on its coastline should send alarm signals to shack-operators in Goa. Until recently, there was no other place in India, which had shacks like we have here. The fresh Goan fish and cuisine of the land was readily served on a platter and nothing could match the ambience of the sea. This gave a huge advantage to Goa as a tourism destination.
But over the years it also bred a lot of unprofessionalism and ‘devil-may-care attitude' among those operating the shacks. The prices charged for the food and beverages have moved far more expensive than an average restaurant in Goa. Hygiene has been thrown to the wind which is evident from the badly maintained toilet facilities. To add to this, the attitude and approach of the staff continues to be unprofessional with may not even bothering to explain the menu to the customers. Often, waiters at shacks are so casually and shabbily dressed that there is no way of knowing if they are actually employed there or not.
All this goes unnoticed because the shack-operators know that tourists in Goa mostly go to a beach, which means that they will definitely go to a shack. This is to such an extent that shacks are taken as an integral part of Goa's tourism, despite all the talk of the sub-standard job and the sky-high prices.
While there may be no answers to the unhygienic conditions at the shacks, there is surely a justification provided for the exorbitant prices for their servings. When asked why prices are so high, the shack-operators reply that they have to spend a lot of money on licence fees paid to the government besides the costs involved in erecting and managing the shacks. This may actually not hold true because the investment in a restaurant or in a café is much higher than in a shack. The other common excuse that is offered by shack operators is that their business is seasonal and lasts for only 6 months. But, again, this is not a valid reason to indulge in unfair trade practices. Apart from the ground conditions, most shacks don't even offer a bill upon payment and in the absence of swipe machine for card transactions, the shack business becomes purely a cash venture, where no accounts are kept of transactions.
Shacks had come up in Goa so that traditional fishermen could offer Goan food in a temporary hut kind of a structure. But, over the years, the shacks have moved really far and away from their original concept. Now that the Maharashtra Government has announced that they are also planning shacks on their coast-line, it is time for shack-operators to look deep within themselves if they are to maintain their stronghold over this segment. All is still not lost, thanks to its strong brand recall, Goa enjoys a special place in a tourist's itinerary. Moreover, Maharashtra government will spend years before they will have infrastructure in coastal-belt to match Goa. It is surely a wake-up call and the shack-operators in the state can't remain complacent.
But over the years it also bred a lot of unprofessionalism and ‘devil-may-care attitude' among those operating the shacks. The prices charged for the food and beverages have moved far more expensive than an average restaurant in Goa. Hygiene has been thrown to the wind which is evident from the badly maintained toilet facilities. To add to this, the attitude and approach of the staff continues to be unprofessional with may not even bothering to explain the menu to the customers. Often, waiters at shacks are so casually and shabbily dressed that there is no way of knowing if they are actually employed there or not.
All this goes unnoticed because the shack-operators know that tourists in Goa mostly go to a beach, which means that they will definitely go to a shack. This is to such an extent that shacks are taken as an integral part of Goa's tourism, despite all the talk of the sub-standard job and the sky-high prices.
While there may be no answers to the unhygienic conditions at the shacks, there is surely a justification provided for the exorbitant prices for their servings. When asked why prices are so high, the shack-operators reply that they have to spend a lot of money on licence fees paid to the government besides the costs involved in erecting and managing the shacks. This may actually not hold true because the investment in a restaurant or in a café is much higher than in a shack. The other common excuse that is offered by shack operators is that their business is seasonal and lasts for only 6 months. But, again, this is not a valid reason to indulge in unfair trade practices. Apart from the ground conditions, most shacks don't even offer a bill upon payment and in the absence of swipe machine for card transactions, the shack business becomes purely a cash venture, where no accounts are kept of transactions.
Shacks had come up in Goa so that traditional fishermen could offer Goan food in a temporary hut kind of a structure. But, over the years, the shacks have moved really far and away from their original concept. Now that the Maharashtra Government has announced that they are also planning shacks on their coast-line, it is time for shack-operators to look deep within themselves if they are to maintain their stronghold over this segment. All is still not lost, thanks to its strong brand recall, Goa enjoys a special place in a tourist's itinerary. Moreover, Maharashtra government will spend years before they will have infrastructure in coastal-belt to match Goa. It is surely a wake-up call and the shack-operators in the state can't remain complacent.
