The beaches are empty and dirty. The pre-season showers of rain have taken many by surprise; but, after a 24-hour respite, tourists have started moving out of their hotels and check-ins have increased.
Tourists, according to a senior travel agent, generally come to Goa for booze and to party all night. Though this truth may be unsavoury to many locals, it needs to be absorbed and even accepted, despite them having reservations.
“The rains might have surprised some, and tourists may have deserted the beaches, but my arrivals have improved after the slump during the period when we were at strife with our neighbours,” says Bruno, who owns a hotel in North Goa.
If the north is still seeing a flow of tourists, the story is different in the south with most preferring to wrap up to warm up for the monsoons. “It is time to enjoy caju,” says Antonio who feels that he is blessed for having had a good tourist season.
Despite the rains during the last two days, tourists could be seen in the north, especially in Calangute, Baga, Anjuna and right up to Arambol. Though the numbers were not large, there were enough tourists to justify operations in the belt.
With people from across India running most businesses, from Anjuna to Arambol, customers are expected to keep arriving throughout the monsoon as many senior travel scouts believe that ‘those coming to drink, party, gamble and have fun through the night, will do so whether it rains or not’.
Despite the rains during the last two days, tourists could be seen in the north, especially in Calangute, Baga, Anjuna and right up to Arambol.
Ladies, gents and even couples, according to industry experts, find Goa — irrespective of the weather or time of the year — to be cheap for the booze it offers and the night life that flows with it.
And, the State has slowly, but clandestinely, looked the other way to make holidaying comfortable to all seeking these pleasures. Goa is one place, which offers the best night life despite the rules stating otherwise.
There is a curfew on loud music after 10 pm, and yet, music can be heard blasting and tourists dancing to it till dawn. If required, alcohol is available throughout the day and night, and things far worse can be accessed when money changes hands.
“Goa is the perfect place for the average middle income Indian who dreams of seeing the world, but cannot afford it. Here, you get what you want and with little trouble,” says Sudin, who is outsourced to a travel agency.
“There is no point talking in terms of monsoon tourism because tourists have been coming, and will come, as long as the bars are open till late and everything associated with night life is just a call away,” he admits.
Despite the government's call to hotels to control pricing, the former prefer to stick to their high ground because they know better what is profitable for them.
“It would have been better if the hotel industry had pulled the plug, but it seems unlikely that they will do so because they know which horse to mount, and when. They maintain their prices because they know the market best,” says an agent.
“The government did a good job during the recent tourism fair in the Middle East, but my experience is that most Arab ladies opt for Mumbai or Kerala. Mumbai, because they want to shop, and what Mumbai offers, Goa does not. And, I am yet to understand why they prefer Kerala to Goa,” says an agent who was part of the tourism delegation to the Gulf.
Many in the industry are waiting to see how tangible Goa’s performance was during the fair in the Gulf. It may take some time, in the meanwhile, domestic tourists will keep enjoying Goa for what they know it to offer.