Getting around in Goa is still the thorn in tourism’s side

Getting around in Goa by public transport is still the log in the tourism industry that brings negativity amongst stakeholders and tourists.

For return foreign visitors, taxi drivers may not be a problem because most of the tourists are well versed with the local transport system and, for them, the inconvenience of traveling in dinghy buses is made up by the way they are treated by the locals.

But for the first timers in Goa, especially those opting for taxis, the experience goes from bad to worse, or, should we say from good to bad to worse. Let’s hear this from the tourists by reading some of the many comments:

Carloe Thomas puts it this way: “Why are taxi drivers in the South so greedy? We paid Rs 1500 to get from Candolim to Betalbatim (42km). This guy wants Rs 1500 to go from Benaulim to Cavelossim (12km)."

For sure, there is a north/south divide though taxi rates should have been uniform after the government compulsorily made all taxi drivers installs fare meters. Logically, there should be no discrepancy in pricing anywhere in the State.

The next question is: Do tourists in India find problems with taxi drivers only in Goa or is it a problem all over the country?

Dean Robertson answers this question by saying: “In our experience most of them are greedy and lazy. Only in Goa do they ask such outrageous prices. Everywhere else in India taxis are very reasonable.”

App-based taxis exist and despite being used and appreciated by locals as well as tourists, do foreigners think the same about app-based taxis?

Stuart Brown gives an indication that he not only uses app-based taxis but that they are better. “If you can download the app of Goa Miles and compare the prices and availability, it is very reasonable.”

What is good for some can be unreliable for others and the case in point is Carole Thomas’ experience: “It (Goa Miles) is not reliable though. We have used it but typically today it wouldn’t work.”

If taxi drivers seem to be a problem in Goa, Edwina Flannery shares her experience with ‘tuk tuk’ drivers in Jaipur and compares it with Goa. “It’s bizarre here. Our tuk tuk driver takes us out all day in Jaipur and we are going around the city from 9.30 till 4.30 for around Rs 1200. That's a lot of travelling about and he speaks such good English too. He’s very careful to ensure we are ok and his tuk tuk is in really clean condition. Not like in Goa.”

Tourists have started to believe that like taxis, rickshaw drivers are joining the bandwagon and the habit of overcharging is creeping into them too. Here’s a comment: “It is really getting bad. Last night we asked a tuk-tuk driver in Candolim for the price for a four-minute journey back to our hotel. He wanted Rs 400 and when I said that’s very expensive.”

It is not just tourists but locals too who are feeling embarrassed by the prices charged and the behaviour of drivers. “Locals as well as domestic and other tourists are facing the heat of these steep taxi prices and also their hooliganism.”

“None of the tourists would ever like to be fleeced during their trip. Somehow, the government has shown least interest in this burning subject. As of now, the State has witnessed a decline in inflow of tourists,” says Malcolm, a local.

These outbursts dent the bearings through which the industry flows but the harm does not appear that bad as can be read through Salian’s thoughts: “Goa taxi fares are unrealistic. They just blurt out an amount for a destination and stick to it. Otherwise Goa is a fantastic place with friendly faces.”

It is these friendly places that make people like Eddie conclude: “Me and the Mrs went to Goa last January for the first time and loved it. Stayed mostly in Anjuna. Went again in January this year and stayed down south in Palolem and Agonda. Loved Agonda, so chilled. Well there’s a chance we’ll get out there in May.”

In a basket there is good and bad and fortunately in the basket of tourism the good seems to outweigh the bad. At least for the moment.