Goa Tourism Ministry has reportedly urged the airline and hospitality industries to roll out special monsoon packages to attract middle and upper-middle-class travelers to Goa. It is learnt that the goal is to ensure Goa doesn’t lose ground to international competitors like Vietnam, Sri Lanka, or Indonesia. However, the question that arises is whether Goa is ready for monsoon tourism. Heavy showers lashed Goa resulting in water-logging and a flood-like situation in low lying areas. Parts of Panaji and Miramar bore the brunt of the heavy showers as water accumulation brought traffic to a standstill. The unseasonal showers threw normal life out of gear, laying bare the glaring gaps in the state government’s claim of being monsoon ready. This was the situation in several parts of Goa underscoring just how unprepared the state is for even moderate rainfall. In all this turmoil, not clearing the drains in time and improper drainage system, the government is counting on monsoon tourism in order to attract tourists. In the present situation tourists may be forced to extend their stay only when they miss the flight due to bad road conditions.
