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Goa is on an overdrive fuelled by tourist arrivals even in the monsoon season. There is nothing called off-season now, tourists want a taste of Goan rainfall and the joys that come along with it.
Post-pandemic, the tourism sector in Goa has evolved. Traditionally, the winter months were considered peak season and there would be a significant drop in tourist arrivals during the monsoon. But all that is not relevant anymore.
The easy availability of rent-a-bike and rent-a-car and better road and air connectivity are fuelling a new breed of tourists who do not shy away from exploring Goa any time of the year.
The local economy may benefit from this, but increased and constant tourist footfalls mean Goa's infrastructure, such as water, electricity, and waste management, is gradually coming under strain.
Like other tourism destinations, Goa too is facing the perils of overtourism but no one is serious about addressing the issue.
Like other tourism destinations, Goa too is facing the perils of overtourism but no one is serious about addressing the issue. On the contrary, the government is out to target more foreign markets when it cannot handle and regulate the constant flow of its own domestic visitors.
According to CNN Travel, tourists visiting Barcelona were sprayed with water by protesters marching through popular areas to demonstrate against mass tourism in their locality.
Locals spraying water on tourists is a symbolic act of protest that highlights their angst and frustration with overtourism's impact on their city and the government's inability to control the flow of visitors.
Also, Italy’s lagoon city of Venice introduced a trial fee in April to limit the number of day trippers, the CNN report adds. Besides Italy and Barcelona, several other places are also experiencing the perils of overtourism.
In Goa, we are not even debating the subject of overtourism. On the contrary, the State is keen on more arrivals, just because there are people who live off tourism.
In Goa, we are not even debating the subject. On the contrary, the State is keen on more arrivals, just because there are people who live off tourism. No one is saying ban tourists from coming, but address the issue or at least admit you have a problem at hand.
One of the major factors for overtourism in certain locations of Goa is social media. Most of the young travellers rely on social media to scout for places that are most visited. A fine example of this is the Parra Madani road which is made famous by a Bollywood flick.
The craze among tourists to visit this spot and take selfies and photos to take back as memories have brought locals and the latter face-to-face. Besides Parra, several such locations are known for their filmy value that largely appeals to domestic tourists.
A small place like Goa cannot afford overtourism because of its fragile ecosystem. Tourism has started taking its toll, but there is no study conducted to know the extent of the problem or the damage caused by the activity.
Tourism has started taking its toll, but there is no study conducted to know the extent of the problem or the damage caused by the activity.
During the season, uncontrolled tourist numbers create an unpleasant experience on many of Goa's well-known beaches in North and South Goa. These numbers have set off demand for cheap food to cater to very low-budget travellers.
The demand for cheap food has given rise to illegal carts on beach accesses that are eyesores. One problem sets off another and so where one finds carts serving food, stray cattle and dogs and waste problems are the offshoots.
Some of the shack owners and those operating by the seaside have been crying hoarse against such illegal carts that cater to cheap tourists and eat into their legal businesses. Some of the panchayats in the coastal villages are doing very little to address the problem.
If not addressed, overtourism will kill us. Also, locals, who feel overwhelmed by too many tourists in their area will stay resentful and the whole experience for the latter will not be enjoyable.
Some of the shack owners and those operating by the seaside have been crying hoarse against such illegal carts that cater to cheap tourists and eat into their legal businesses.
What the Goa government needs to do is pause or slow down and reinvent tourism experiences to ensure it is attracting high-value tourists and discouraging the ones who do not contribute to the State's well-being and economy.
It is, but certain, that Goa needs to take control and draw a line by putting in place strong measures to see that overtourism doesn't kill the hen that lays the golden eggs (the hen is tourism here). Yes, it's time to slow down Goa, or else a crash is imminent!