MAPUSA
Over the past two weeks, Goa has repeatedly hit headlines for the wrong reasons ” putting the spotlight on the uncomfortable underside of tourism in an otherwise celebrated holiday destination.
While stray incidents of tourists flouting rules ” such as reckless driving on beaches, drinking in public or cooking roadside ” are not new, industry stakeholders say the recent spurt in complaints suggests a deeper problem.
Many feel that some tourists have begun taking Goan hospitality “too much for granted,” and the consequences are beginning to show.
The flashpoints have been varied: tourists from Gujarat claiming they were assaulted by bouncers at a popular Vagator nightclub; foreign visitors complaining of being overcharged by taxi operators; and a video of a young woman alleging eve-teasing and vulgar comments at a shack in Baga.
At the same time, local residents continue to flag the nuisance created by groups of domestic tourists on beaches and in public spaces. Amid this backdrop, tourism stakeholders are increasingly vocal about the possible long-term damage to Goa’s reputation.
Reputation hit
President of the Small and Medium Hotels Association, Santosh Divkar, said the perception of Goa as a safe and relaxed tourist destination is “getting tarnished day by day” ” and not necessarily due to Goans themselves.
According to him, a significant portion of unruly behaviour comes from domestic tourists who arrive with preconceived notions about Goa and foreign travellers. “There is a perception that many Indian tourists come here just to watch foreign women,” he said, adding that unacceptable behaviour ” such as putting an arm around foreign women or approaching them after drinking “ reflects poorly on the State. “This mentality affects not only Goa, but the country as a whole,” he argued.
Divkar also pointed to recent incidents involving non-Goan staff employed in the hospitality sector, arguing that such workers, too, play a role in eroding the State’s image. The recent arrest of a shack employee for alleged misconduct with a tourist, he said, shows why many Goans no longer feel comfortable visiting their own beaches.
Weak implementation of regulations
While Goa already has several regulations in place, Divkar believes implementation is weak. He also made a controversial suggestion: “If Goa becomes a little more expensive, we will get better tourists rather than the riff-raff that is invading the State.”
Shack owners share similar concerns, though with a different emphasis. President of the Goan Traditional Shack Owners Association, Manuel Cardozo, admitted that negative news surrounding Goa has surged, but maintained that shacks do not initiate confrontations. “Our staff always try to resolve differences amicably. It is mostly domestic male tourists who come in groups and create problems to avoid paying bills,” Cardozo said.
He added that while staff receive no formal safety or security training, police instructions are clear ” shack employees must never raise a hand first. Cardozo also alleged that police sometimes side with tourists for ulterior motives. “Police instigate tourists to file complaints against shack owners. It helps them extort hafta from both sides,” he claimed.
He urged the tourism and home departments to work cohesively to prevent such incidents and restore confidence among visitors.
Taxi operators, too, feel that their image is being unfairly dragged into the narrative.
Local operator Yogesh “Mogambo” Govekar argued that traditional taxi services are not the problem; instead, he blames the app-based service Goa Miles for undercutting fares and creating friction. “At one time, we were called the ambassadors of Goa. Now the government introduces Goa Miles and calls us the mafia,” he said.
According to him, Goa is not suited for aggregator-driven taxi systems, and attempts to bring them in are motivated by political interests. He insisted that taxi operators do not misbehave with tourists, though he admitted they have confronted Goa Miles drivers. “Our fight is with the aggregators, not the tourists. For us, tourists are ‘atti deva bhavo’,” he said.
Will Goa’s image suffer?
The opinions differ across industry segments, but a common thread runs through all of them: a fear that continued incidents “ whether involving tourists, staff, law enforcement or operators “ will eventually harm Goa’s global image as a safe and welcoming destination.
Stakeholders believe that inconsistent enforcement, lack of coordination among agencies and the behaviour of both tourists and certain service providers have collectively created a fragile situation.
As Goa heads into peak season, tourism voices are urging the government to strengthen on-ground enforcement, improve staff training, clamp down on illegal behaviour and restore the trust that has traditionally made Goa one of India’s most favoured travel destinations.
