PANAJI
As the year-end festivities inch closer and many people will be preparing for holidays, a travel portal’s latest findings ranked Goa fifth on the list of cost-effective travel destinations among the Asia Pacific nations. Thailand takes the top spot for budget-conscious travellers.
As per the report, during the peak season from December 22 to December 31, the average room rate in Goa is around Rs 7,621. In contrast, Hat Yai in Thailand offers the most cost-effective option at Rs 3,562 per day, followed by Yogyakarta in Indonesia at Rs 4,639, Kuching in Malaysia at Rs 4,970, and Dalat in Vietnam at Rs 5,633 for the same period.
Goa experiences a surge in tourists during the peak season, leading to higher tariffs. Despite this, it remains a popular destination, especially among Indian travellers.
A representative from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) acknowledged the demand for Goa during this time claiming it as justified. “It’s an annual trend… The tariffs spike during the tourist season and it goes even further during the peak period when the State is overcrowded with tourists,” the TTAG member said.
Another senior official from a prominent travel agency in Goa explained that various factors, including beachside parties, nightlife, music festivals, and events, contribute to the relatively higher travel expenses in Goa.
The Goa government has recently emphasized the importance of attracting quality tourists to elevate the State’s international reputation. However, illegal parties and noisy scenes in the coastal belt beyond the permissible times, garbage menace, reckless driving by tourists, etc. have marred the reputation.
Though Goa has been fortunate to record an impressive revival of tourism post-Covid-pandemic, stakeholders have time and again insisted on well-behaved tourists.
The State, has also simultaneously, been claiming to carry out infrastructure developments to not only accommodate larger tourist numbers but to also attract tourists who will spend on high-class infrastructure.
In the present scenario, the State has been witnessing a large influx of domestic tourists while the hotels, lodges and even guest houses are almost 80-90 percent booked. The first charter from Russia marked the beginning of the tourist season on Sunday. Incidentally, Russia is among few international countries that bring in high-spending tourists.
