Once considered to be a bustling tourism hub for both domestic and international tourists, the downfall of Goa has grabbed headlines recently.
The state, with its well-developed beach and nightlife infrastructure and unparalleled natural beauty, has been one of the most visited tourist destinations in India.
However, recent uproar over the mismanaged taxi mafia and a generally more ‘expensive’ Goa have been key factors to send tourist numbers in the state plummeting down. Let us understand it in detail.
The Viral CEIC Report on X
It all began with a tweet by Indian legal entrepreneur Ramanuj Mukherjee on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting the downfall of Goa.
He shared a CEIC (China Economic Information Center) report stating domestic and foreign tourists visiting Goa and pointed out how the number of international tourists arriving in Goa has been on a sharp decline since 2019.
Mukherjee also quoted that “Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead”.
The report shows that there is a rise in Indian tourists contrary to that in the foreign tourists, however, he was of the opinion that “Indian tourists are still visiting, but soon are likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists”.
X users were quick to jump the bandwagon and talk about their own issues they faced in Goa. Many pointed out that the Goa taxi mafia is one of the major reasons why so many of them had an unpleasant experience.
They’ve reported that taxi drivers in Goa are often a part of large associations of drivers who assert complete monopoly over taxi tariffs.
Speaking about the Goa taxi mafia, one X user Anant Gupta said that “taxis charge INR 1,000 for just 10 kilometers (km)”.
One other X user Chirag Barjatya also reported how a taxi guy asked him to drop down the foreign guy he had decided to give a lift to or else he (the taxi driver) would break the car.
Reasons Behind Goa’s Downfall In The Public Eye
Lack of A Regularized Taxi System And The Goa Taxi Mafia
Goa does not have a regularized taxi system such as Ola or Uber which are more common in other Indian cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, and Pune.
While Goa does have a decent public transport system in the form of local government and private buses, getting from one city to another, especially from the North to the South usually requires a cab or a rental car/two-wheeler.
The local Goa taxi mafia is notoriously known for charging exorbitant rates from tourists even for a shorter ride. They’re also known for not following a metered service, often quoting an unregulated price for a cab ride.
Add to that their occasional hostile behavior towards tourists and that has led to many tourists taking it online to address their concerns.
While there were efforts to bring in online taxi rental services like Ola and Uber called the GoaMiles, the Goa taxi mafia has opposed and protested against it, stating that it would hamper their business.
While flight tickets from Mumbai to Goa cost somewhere between INR 2000 to INR 3000, people have reported that they’ve paid similar amounts for a taxi from the airport to their hotel in Goa!
Overpricing Everywhere
Many people have reported on social media sites that most services in Goa are overpriced. The hotel accommodations, food at restaurants, and other services are often inflated for tourists.
Though food served in local restaurants is comparatively affordable, many tourists have reported online that transport is the main factor leading to inflated costs, as they have to eventually submit to the pricey taxi tariffs to get from one tourist destination in Goa to another.
In fact, some also expressed that traveling to international destinations like Thailand and Sri Lanka in the same budget (or sometimes lower) as that of Goa is more profitable for them.
Disapproving Locals, Thanks To Reckless Tourists
While we’re not completely demonizing Goan locals, there have been multiple reports where people have stated how locals disapprove of tourists.
This has more to do with the reckless behavior of some tourists who vandalize and create chaos at tourist spots.
Take Fontainhas for example. The colorful villas and houses in the lanes of Fontainhas quickly became an internet sensation, resulting in millions of tourists flocking here to get the perfect ‘Instagram’ picture.
This resulted in chaos in this residential area and has now resulted in many locals not allowing them to click pictures or create noise here.
Now, this makes some sense, however, there have also been several other cases where locals have been hostile towards tourists.
Affordable International Travel
Not just Goa becoming pricey, but the drop in international travel fare has resulted in many tourists choosing to go international.
Tourist destinations like Thailand, Singapore, and Sri Lanka offer a similar and often better experience than Goa.
In fact, Thailand introduced e-visas for Indians from 2025, making it even easier for Indian tourists to explore the country.
As stated above, budget traveling to international destinations like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and other Asian countries is more affordable now than ever.
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Summing Up
While the downfall of Goa is currently the talk of the town, there is a silver lining to it. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tweeted on X stating “Goa has witnessed remarkable growth in its revenue collection for December 2024, with a surge of Rs. 75.51 Crores compared to the same month last year.
This year’s numbers reflect a strong upward trend, signaling positive economic momentum”. Also, the number of domestic tourists visiting Goa was 8 million in the year 2023, and if the state addresses tourist concerns, their numbers are surely to increase in the coming months and years.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. Why Is Goa Famous?
Goa is famous mostly for its pristine beaches, nightlife, restaurants, natural beauty, and most importantly its laid back life. This attracts tourists from all over the world.
Q2. How Many Tourists Visit Goa Each Year?
According to the CEIC data, about 8 million domestic tourists and 1.5 million international tourists visited Goa in 2023. In 2022, about 6 million domestic and 1.2 million international tourists visited the state.
Q3. When Not To Travel To Goa?
The monsoon season from June to September is considered to be an off-season when most businesses are temporarily shut for tourists. This is the time you should avoid visiting Goa, as the state experiences torrential rainfall and a climate generally not conducive to tourism.
