The Brits are back and Goa tourism smiles again

Tourism stakeholders in Goa saw the season start with a stutter, pick up pace through December, and remain on a song and dance for the remaining part of the tourist season.

As the season comes to an end, most are left with the feeling that the gruel they gained was better than the crumbs they earned post the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We cannot be complaining much because it now appears that we are returning to the old days, though it will never be the same,” introspects Orlando Nunes, who heads Trail Blazers.

"The British have started coming and are enjoying their stay, and we expect a substantial increase next season,” he adds.

The 2023-24 season witnessed an influx of tourists from the United Kingdom – a shift from the numerous Russians seen pre- and during Covid-19 – and the presence of Britishers brought a smile to industry stakeholders, that was carried forward from past experience.

“It was nice to see some of our old friends from the UK come back. Their approach is different. They are more receptive and soon become part of the family,” reflects Anysia, as she starts cleaning up her vacated apartment in Candolim.

“I have a guest, who came in November and will be leaving in a few days now. She has been coming for years and has never given us any problem. She has already booked the place for next season, and we are happy,” is how Daya from Vagator explains the season.

If tourists from the UK enjoyed their holidays, putting up in apartments in Candolim and South Goa, the Russians preferred the north, Arambol in particular, with a few opting to stay in Colva and surrounding beaches in South Goa.

“It was an average season. I had Russians and a lot of clients from India. At the end of the day, I think the government should do more in terms of supporting the industry,” reasons Abhay Prabhu, owner of a hotel in Colva.

He added, “I had a client who wanted to go to Dudhsagar yesterday. There is no portal available that could guide him how to reach the place. I have had guests who went to Dudhsagar and returned immediately because they were unhappy with the facilities.”

The just-concluded season has seen Goa split into two, with the partying-kind preferring to stay in the North, and the lovers of peace and quiet essentially preferring the South.

Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim and Arambol were the hubs of loud music that, through the season, went on well beyond the time permitted by the Supreme Court of India, whilst Cavelossim, Benaulim, Utorda were locations booked for weddings and corporate glitzes.

“The season started with us not being able to sleep at night because of the loud music being played every night. We kept complaining, and our complaints, have been ignored by the police till now,” laments Priya, who runs a restaurant in Vagator.

She rues the season may have been good for those who made money by indulging in illegal trade, but for them it was bad.

Nevertheless, the industry is hopeful. “The season has been good, but it has seen five-star hotels in Goa preferring Indian clients and that shift of focus is altering the path of tourism,” laments Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sita, Ernest Dias.

"Their preference for domestic tourists, and the change in their costing is making it difficult to attract foreign tourists,” says Dias.

“Goa is now facing competition from destinations like Egypt and Vietnam. The wars before, and now, are other plugs that are keeping tourists away. Wars are never good, and we can expect to do better if things normalise on the battlefront,” observed Dias.

As the curtain draws on 2023-24, one sees smiles for the season that has ended, and optimism for the season that is coming. It is the goodwill of Goa that will open the curtains on the forthcoming season.