These three keywords appear at the start of the Goa Chapter of the India Edition (2025) of the Lonely Planet. It further goes on to add “A long coastline, swathes of green, quaint heritage spots, culture and sports, exciting food and drink options and relaxed vibe nearly everywhere you go. Welcome to India’s favourite holiday destination”.
Goa’s USP
The world’s most popular travel guidebook could not have captured the essence of Goa as a hot tourism destination any better. Goa’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP) remains its natural beauty (beaches and greenery), heritage and culture. This has been supplemented by the most diverse restaurant and food and beverage options in the entire country. Nearly every well known chef or drinks mixologist has set up shop in Goa. Add world class resorts, quaint heritage/boutique accommodation, engaging experiences and sussegado (the relaxed vibe that only Goa gives) and you have an irresistible tourism product.
Connectivity clearly makes Goa the most easily accessible Tourism Destination in India. Its two airports cater to over 100 domestic flights daily. Most of the Tier 1 and Tier II cities in the Economic Hubs of Western and Southern India (Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chennai and Coimbatore) are about an hour’s flight away. Major cities in Central and Western India (Bhopal, Indore, Raipur, Delhi, Lucknow) are about two-and-half hours away. Superb road and rail connectivity further supplements this.
This Connectivity ensures that Goa remains the go-to destination for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Entertainment) segment by allowing domestic corporates convenience and accessibility. It also encourages Indian destination weddings, a sector which has the biggest consumer spend in the country.
Tourism has led to economic prosperity in Goa over the last five decades. Its benefits have been largely egalitarian with significant economic gains for earlier marginalized sections of society. As per official figures it contributes 16 percent to the state GSDP and 35 percent of employment on a direct basis. The multiplier effects and indirect benefits are also many. The direct and indirect taxes it generates further adds to the state’s economic heft.
Structural issues, solutions
Today, Goa is a mature tourism destination. There is an urgent need to address certain structural issues for it to continue to retain its premier position. To once again quote the Lonely Planet “Goa continues to struggle with over-tourism. In recent years, the State has changed irrevocably. People seeking a better (and cheap) quality of life have flooded here resulting in a decisive change in its dining, cultural and ecological landscape”.
The first and major challenge facing Goa is over tourism and concretisation/ugly urban sprawl in popular locations frequented by visitors. This is largely prevalent in the two Old Conquest Talukas of Bardez and Tiswadi and is now spreading to the new conquest coastal talukas of Pernem (Morjim, Ashwem, Mandrem and Arambol) and Canacona (Agonda,Palolem,etc). There has been loss of green cover, natural beauty and proliferation of tin sheds along roads and fields result in the beginning of urban sprawl which makes parts of Goa resemble the chaordic cities of India-The very situation from which tourists come to take a break and recharge in Goa.
Allied to this is the feeling that a lot of the investment coming into Goa today, whether it be in luxury resorts, casinos or luxury villas and homestays is from Investors who do not live in Goa or have an emotional connection with the land or its people. This has led to resentment amongst the local population who feel alienated as prices of housing have escalated rapidly and out of their reach.
Allied to this is the feeling that a lot of the investment coming into Goa today, whether it be in luxury resorts, casinos or luxury villas and homestays is from Investors who do not live in Goa or have an emotional connection with the land or its people. This has led to resentment amongst the local population who feel alienated as prices of housing have escalated rapidly and out of their reach.
A substantial proportion of the investment in the housing sector is in what is called the ‘Airbnb Sector’, wherein 2nd, 3rd and 4th houses are bought by wealthy investors with the intention of running them as short-term rentals. About 8,300 of the approximately 8,700 accommodation units registered with the Department of Tourism (50,000 out of 75,000 rooms) is in the C and D category with an average size of 10 and 4 rooms respectively. A lot of these will be apartments and villas bought for the short- term rental market. It is a common belief that a further large number of apartments and villa’s operate without being registered.
Along with ugly construction and urban sprawl in the form of tin sheds and shanties, areas and fields along highways are littered with plastic and waste. There is an urgent need to take up cleanliness measures on a war footing.
The MICE sector faces two major challenges -1) Lack of a world-class convention centre and 2) Complicated and cumbersome licencing requirements. A world class convention centre can be a major driver of economic growth. We have seen major convention centres come up at Delhi (Yashobhoomi at Dwarka), Mumbai (Reliance Jio), Hyderabad and Jaipur. Hyderabad and Jaipur are managed by World class hotel brands i.e. Accor and Novotel. A similar model could be worked out in Goa.
Event Managers have to run from pillar to post to get about 15 licences from different government departments for each event. There is a need to streamline the above and enable a single window document push with licences issued within 7 days. Copyright fees payable to holders of music copyright are a major pain point. There is a need to rationalise the fees and a single agency be appointed as a nodal agency to collect all such fees.
Technology in transport is much needed. In nearly every major city in India consumers have become used to booking taxis via Apps. It is easy, convenient and pricing is transparent. It is mind boggling that the same is not available in Goa. Most of the negative publicity that Goa has got in the last half year pertains to this issue. Chief minister Pramod Sawant and Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho have bitten the bullet and drafted very progressive app aggregator guidelines which are fair and equitable to all stakeholders.
There is a need to revive the international market. Numbers have been a stagnant at about half-a-million compared to the domestic numbers of nine-and-a-half million. Growth has been higher then trends in the rest of India but the number of arrivals are still way below 2019. Foreign tourists bring in valuable foreign exchange and their spends are akin to service exports. On an average they tend to support business run by locals and they stay longer at a destination.
Goa has been identified as one of the main state’s in India which will be affected by climate change. The effects of adverse weather such as extreme heat, humidity and unseasonal heavy rainfall are already being experienced. While a lot of what is happening is out of our control, we need to encourage sustainable and regenerative practices. A standard operating procedure (SOP) of sustainable practices should be made and all those who follow such practices should be incentivised by the Government.
Great public infrastructure gives a huge fillip to a tourist destination. One of the reasons that most European cities attract tourists is due to their public infrastructure. Well designed roads and pavements which encourage one to walk, efficient public transport and a high level of cleanliness are the basic requirements. The Smart City project in Panaji was a great opportunity to make this happen in Panaji but has largely been fritted away.
Over-development and wasteful management practices have resulted in bio-diversity loss. Our environment has been affected, particularly the marine environment with the humpback dolphin being a major victim. We need to find a way to mitigate this.
I would like to conclude by envisioning five years hence that the local community is fully engaged and involved in tourism and shares a warm relationship with visitors resulting in a win-win situation for all. This will ensure that our environment, natural beauty and way of life thrive as they are the true assets which drive our tourism industry.
