PANAJI
Goa’s tourism has been in the spotlight over the last one year. All thanks to social media influencers who are out to "defame" the coastal State with claims like “Go Goa Gone”… “Tourism in Goa is down in the dumps”.
While the State government has refuted the claims with figures that show a substantial rise in tourist footfalls ” both domestic and international ” in the current year, the viral posts by the influencers have criticised State tourism infrastructure, the lack of adequate public transport, the monopoly of the local taxi mafia, overpriced hotel accommodation, etc.
Varad Patil, influencer
“Dear Indians #BoycottGoa, if you don’t wanna get killed, then stop visiting Goa. Goa has become a hub of murderers and rowdies, they start to extort from tourists and rowdyism by shack employees, taxis and local pubs and restaurants everywhere. Goa Police is hopeless.”
(The statement was made after the death of a 30-year-old AP tourist at a beach shack on New Year’s Eve)
Prashanth Kini, influencer
“Downfall of tourism in GOA is due to rude behaviour towards tourists by certain localities… In present times, some Goans are behaving like Maldivians… Many Goans hate tourists… GOA lacks cleanliness… Narrow roads to prominent beaches… Lack of infrastructure development in tourist destinations… Piles of scrap in front of most of the residential and tourist destinations… Poor traffic management and parking facilities…”
Vivek Sharma, influencer
“Goa is dead because of Goans, I say. They are rude and aggressive towards tourists. They extort money from tourists while transporting them, lodging and boarding them. There is minimal infrastructure while they demand the price of Havana.”
Akshat Shrivastava, an influencer settled in Goa
“Goa is one of the most accepting places in India. I was an ‘outsider’ when I moved to Goa. People were kind, warm and affable. My experience in Goa has been nothing short of amazing. And, as a result, I decided to make it my home. Does it have problems? Yes ” especially for tourists. And I hope that the relevant authorities do something about it. But commenting on Goans (as rude) is outright wrong. They are some of the kindest people I have met.”
