We are well into the new year, almost approaching the off-season in the tourism calendar, with low footfalls in both high-end as well as low-end tourist arrivals. The decline in tourist arrivals does not augur well for the Goan economy.
Tourism was first introduced by the hippies in the 60s and slowly gained prominence and appeared on the tourist map much later in the 1980s. When mining activities stopped in 2012, tourism became the backbone of the Goan economy. All parameters of these relatively nascent sectors of tourism have to be nurtured well by introducing and injecting new ideas for the uplift of quality tourism.
The government is doing precious little to woo tourists from all parts of the globe. The five-star hospitality condominiums can be heard groaning from lack of business, vital for their survival in this competitive industry. If you don't do your homework in time, you miss the bus for the whole business year, and then it becomes absolutely difficult to keep pace with competitors who have progressed well forward.
These industry chieftains or CEOs need to survey and study the prospective markets during the off-season so they can strike good remunerative deals during the coming new tourist season, or they will rue their luck for not doing enough to capitalise upon the highly competitive market shares. Those who did well in their routine work of surveying and gauging the local as well as the international forces would reap high benefits in the coming new season.
The last Christmas and New Year occupancy was low compared to earlier standards, normally donning houseful placards outside their rooms. Foreigners flock to destinations which are tourism-savvy with good cleanliness, safety, ample cheap transport facilities, availability of cheap substantial exotic eateries dishing out good food, and free visas. In the event of minus either one of the above, it could spell a bleak unfruitful season.
This stagnant tourism with low footfalls should be overcome with more of giving good amenities and other infrastructure conducive to attracting more tourists, who are currently being lured to other cheaper eye-catching rustic destinations.
The South Goa hotel occupancy fared better than their Northern counterparts as they lowered their tariffs in October last to create a competitive edge and fare much better. It all boils down to reasonable tariffs for rooms, taking into consideration the overall Goan infrastructure, which is comparatively below par as compared to their counterparts in Southeast and Far Eastern countries. Much negative publicity is going around by word of mouth which has to be countered and reined in with good work which can change the tourists' minds and reversely make a beeline back into the state.
