New Delhi: After a social media post last week sparked a row about the shape of Goa’s tourism industry, Rohan Khaunte, the state’s tourism minister told ThePrint that the number of tourists visiting Goa saw a rise in 2023, compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Ramanuj Mukherjee, an entrepreneur, had remarked in a 5 November post on X that Goa tourism is “down in dumps”. He further claimed that foreign tourists have “abandoned the state” by sharing data of declining foreign tourist footfall.
The post irked the state’s tourism department, leading it to file an official complaint with the cyber crime police station in Panaji against Mukherjee, reacting to which he told ThePrint, “You cannot protect Goa tourism merely by managing the narrative or suppressing criticism. Real action is needed based on the feedback received. The conversations are merely beginning to get around. It is not business as usual.”
The complaint called Mukherjee’s post “an incident of public mischief”.
In his post, Mukherjee had written, “Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead.”
He added that domestic tourists are still visiting Goa, they are likely to pick “cheaper comparable locations abroad” as word about the “exploitation of tourists” spreads.
Tourism in Goa is down in dumps
Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead.
Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about… pic.twitter.com/RF2TLC2Zvi
— Ramanuj Mukherjee (@law_ninja) November 5, 2024
However, Khaunte said in an interview to ThePrint that 81,75,460 domestic tourists and 4,52,702 international tourists visited Goa last year, totalling to 86,28,162.
In 2019, 71,27,287 domestic tourists and 9,37,114 international tourists had visited Goa—80,64,400 in total. This indicates a rise in the number of total tourists, compared to pre-pandemic figures, he said.
“The report of UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) talks about how Asia is yet to recover post-pandemic, and we are still at minus 18 percent (tourist footfall). So, as a country, we are recovering from the impact of the pandemic, where the whole shift of consumer behaviour and preferences has started,” he told ThePrint.
He added that as travellers are prioritising hygiene, social distancing and contactless services, the Goa experience is now different, referring to the acceleration in digital adoption of services.
“We need to understand that the international numbers, and especially the Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs), the foreign travellers, have surpassed the percentage the country has received in terms of the post-COVID percentage. So, here we are talking about a figure as low as 52,000, which is 50 percent of pre-pandemic figures in terms of international recovery, but yet, the recovery in FTAs is much higher.”
The Goa Department of Tourism has been sourcing this information from the two airports and other tourist hotspots in the state, he said.
On the row ignited by Mukherjee’s X post and the data shared by him, Khaunte said that Goa can no longer take such controversies at the onset of tourism season. “Every influencer—whether it is a paid influencer or whatever—tries a different plan every year. Last year too, some influencers…paid influencers tried this.”
He remarked, “If we do not attend to this in terms of complaint, then the maligning or misrepresentation of Goa will continue. Our prime minister is talking about ‘Chalo India’ and ‘Dekho Apna Desh’. Every state today is competing, collaborating or cooperating. And here you have somebody just coming and giving figures, which are unknown to anybody.”
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‘Tragedy of the commons’
“Goa has a problem that is known in Economics as ‘the tragedy of the commons’,” Mukherjee told ThePrint.
He said that the poor experiences of every single tourist negatively impact the global goodwill, and when a lot of people have bad experiences and the stories get around, it can seriously erode the brand.
The government can provide leadership by not ignoring the outpour of grievances through so many posts, videos and articles, and the myriad social media interactions about the poor experiences that Indians and foreigners have had in the state, he said.
According to the complaint filed by Rajesh Kale, the deputy director of Goa’s tourism department, the entrepreneur had “referenced China Economic Information Center (CEIC) data in his post”, the credibility of which is “questionable as he neither consulted with the Department of Tourism prior to posting nor validated the data he collected”.
Requesting the department to check the validity of CEIC data, he said, “It is not an abbreviation for Chinese Economic Information Center. The department seems to have confused CEIC with CEIS, which is Chinese Economic Information Services. Even if the argument is that the data is incorrect, trying to paint it as some kind of Chinese conspiracy is not helping.”
‘Goa beyond beaches’
Minister Khaunte said that the tourism department is currently aiming at choosing a new direction for the space, with a lens on attracting travellers interested in visiting Goa for “more than just beach parties”. The state government’s “Goa beyond beaches” push intends to highlight its cultural, spiritual and environmental assets, focusing on “regenerative tourism”, he explained.
Regenerative tourism, according to Khaunte, is about leaving places better than they were found by promoting local artisans, preserving ecosystems and fostering community well-being. “Initiatives like the Ekadasha Tirtha, a circuit of 11 sacred sites, will offer travellers an immersive experience, connecting them with Goa’s rich heritage through worship, architecture and traditional cuisine,” he said.
“So when we talk about this, we also talk about the storytelling of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which has been there for long, but is never spoken about. From the spiritual tourism point of view…from the cultural tourism point of view…from the adventure, wellness, weddings, eco-tourism point of view…these verticals are being given more focus.”
The state’s efforts also extend to infrastructure and governance, with policies ensuring safe and authentic travel experiences, Khaunte told ThePrint. This includes a dedicated tourist helpline, the ‘Ping Force’ for women’s safety and partnerships with platforms, like Airbnb, to promote rural homestays. “Our beach vigil app allows locals to report issues in real-time, ensuring quick cleanup and accountability.”
Moreover, he said, the government has created a homestay policy, which is a collaborative effort between the government and platforms, like Agoda, MakeMyTrip, Airbnb. “We’re ensuring that Goa’s future in tourism is sustainable, inclusive and aligned with global standards,” he noted, adding that the government is prepared to counter any “misinformation” that may derail the progress.
Highlighting the challenges, Khaunte told ThePrint that the government cannot curb market rates in terms of hotels and taxis, but it has created initiatives, like Goa Miles, an online app by the Goan government, which gives a “clear balance to the taxi driver, the taxi owner and the tourist with a very clear director of transport notified rate”.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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