A majority of the tourism stakeholders in Goa are adapting, or have begun to adapt, to changing times. With footfalls on the decrease, the emphasis is now towards drawing in the locals to make tills jingle until the new season begins.
With May approaching and the last charter passengers preparing to leave, the focus is on domestic tourists, and the expectancy is not too high, hence, attempts to get the locals back.
Many shacks have started closing down and just a few restaurants on the coast will remain open, with most looking to whet the appetites of the locals by dressing up their menus.
“I will not be closing for the season, but am also not expecting full houses as many of my boys are going home for the holidays. To stay alive, I have changed my restaurant profile to that of a party spot,” admits Robert, who owns a place well frequented by Brits.
“This is when families like to come out to celebrate birthdays or class reunions which are known as batch parties. We cater for such occasions and the prices are tailored accordingly,” he admits.
At a beach in South Goa, children could be heard screaming with joy as the sun was about to set and with them, adults could be seen joining the fun. “I thought of having my daughter’s birthday on the beach for a change,” explained Leandro as he soaked in the fun.
Many shacks have started closing down and just a few restaurants on the coast will remain open, with most looking to whet the appetites of the locals by dressing up their menus.
“At the end of the day, I think it was the right decision because the kids had a ball on the beach, they enjoyed the food, and the difference can be seen on their faces,” beams Leandro.
For the owner of the restaurant on the edge of the beach, it made sense to open the doors to the locals. “The restaurant has been seeing very low footfalls and it makes sense to let the place out to our own people,” reasons Pierre.
If restaurants are opening up for locals, hotels run by locals are following suit with one particular owner giving out the place to school or college reunions.
“I have groups that come during the weekend, party during the night, crash out and leave on Sunday after lunch. With no takers for the room and these batch meetings consisting of decent people, both end up happy,” reasons Vivek who runs a 24-room hotel in South Goa.
The number of rickshaws plying towards the beaches of South Goa have decreased with most foreigners having returned, and only a few who own apartments opting to stay back.
Andrew, from the UK, is one of these. “We have returned and intend to stay here during the monsoons. We have heard a lot and decided to experience it ourselves. Our apartment is air-conditioned, and so we are managing the heat well,” he admits while dining at a shack.
High end hotels have bookings from guests from North and South India during the summer with a few weddings planned for the month of May.
“With the tragedy in Kashmir, we expect bookings to increase,” said an executive of a hotel on condition of anonymity. The aftermath of Kashmir has not yet been felt by tourism stakeholders in Goa, though many do not rule out feeling some repercussions as the heat of May becomes unbearable.