While Goa offers natural beauty, getting around to experience it might be a different or rather daunting story. And many a tourist, who chose Goa as their holiday destination, have had their nightmarish stories to tell.
A recent video on social media has taken the internet by storm. It shows a group of tourists in Goa arguing over the cancellation of a Goa Miles cab, which they had booked for Rs 300, and opt for a local taxi at Rs 1,000, instead.
If you are wondering why would anybody do that, then you would be new to Goa’s taxi politics, where local cab drivers insist that tourists hire their cabs at whatever fares they choose to quote.
Crystal Andrade, from Bangalore, takes a week-long holiday and comes to Goa. But, since she doesn’t know how to drive or ride – she has to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea – the cab or local buses.
“I know that the cabs will cheat me, but I have no option. Once I had to meet a family in Dona Paula, and the cab charged me Rs 1,000 to go from Calangute. I had no other option," she says.
"Goa is no longer economical. I sometimes feel it’s better to go to another country like Thailand, where things are much cheaper,” she adds.
She is not the only one feeling this way. However, those who know how to drive have found alternative options.
Govardan from Bombay, a regular visitor to Goa, prefers to go for a rent-a-cab. “We book our rent-a-cabs even before booking our flight tickets! Initially, I used to take the cabs, but it’s only recently that I started opting for rent-a-cab," he says.
If local transport is quick and efficient with routes marked out well, it would be so much better. For example, going to places like Arambol or Morjim in local buses is so much time consuming. The wait for the bus itself is too muchA regular traveller from Pune
"I pay Rs 1,000 to hire the cab for one day, and petrol is on me. If you take a cab, you know that they will definitely cheat you,” he shares.
"And, the advantage of renting a cab doesn't end there," he says and adds, "once you develop a friendship, the rent-a-cab owner even gives you a discount."
A traveller from Pune, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, suggests that public transportation in Goa definitely needs improvement to make life better and convenient for tourists.
“If local transport is quick and efficient with routes marked out well, it would be so much better. For example, going to places like Arambol or Morjim in local buses is so much time consuming. The wait for the bus itself is too much,” he says.
Goa being one of the most-favoured destinations in India, basic regulations need to be implemented by the authorities so as to ensure that not only do tourists feel safe, but also have a fair ride.
Or else, in the long run, unreliable transportation will have a long-lasting negative impact on the state's tourism industry.