
With the ceasefire in place and a few airlines still cancelling flights to certain airports in the North, tourism stakeholders in North Goa are still hoping that their good days will continue whilst those in South Goa have begun to enjoy their break.
Nightlife in North Goa is pumped up with most units playing loud music from dusk to dawn, even when tensions were at their highest during the conflict with Pakistan, whilst in the South Goa hotel owners are seeing low footfalls.
“We have 30 percent occupancy. Though this is not the time for high occupancy, I have parents coming from metro cities, to enjoy their children’s summer vacations, on and off,” claimed Abhay who owns a hotel in South Goa.
“Things were better post-Covid, but have dimmed now. I am not complaining because those times were different. Teams participating in football tournaments use my facilities,” admitted Abhay.
With a drop in tourists, apart from shacks, homestays along the southern belt and rent-back apartments have started closing for the monsoons with many places already wrapped in plastic.
“It is time to clean up and pack up for the monsoons. Most of our clients have gone back, and will not be returning till after the monsoons. Once the rains start, weeds will start sprouting, and with them, insects. Hence, the decision to close everything,” admitted Andrew as he monitored his workers.
Elsewhere, Ubaldo a caretaker of a rent-back apartment says, “Many second home owners have left for cooler environs, and some are expected back for short visits during the monsoons, and once the season starts. Many find the place slippery and risky to live in during the rains.”
If things are wrapping up in the south, life is vibrant in the north, especially as the sun begins to set or even much later. Most units operating along the northern coastal belt see an increase in footfalls after 10 pm, and the action continues till sunrise.
“They dance all night and sleep all day because it is too hot to go outside. Most are basically here to enjoy the nightlife. These days, with it being hot even at night, the number of new tourists is on the decline,” said Amit who manages the front desk of a high-end restaurant in the north.
Most units operating along the northern coastal belt see an increase in footfalls after 10 pm, and the action continues till sunrise.
Calangute, Baga, Vagator, Anjuna, Morjim and Mandrem see some footfalls of tourists from evening onwards, but the local stakeholders do not appear enthusiastic.
“Business is good, but this is the time of the year when even the staff gets tired easily due to the heat. It is difficult to work under such circumstances, so I really cannot complain,” shares Augustus who owns a homestay.
As the sun begins to set, Evan stops at a retail shop in Arambol and hurriedly picks up eatables and drinks for his home. “It is too hot for this time of the day. Once I reach home, I will stuff these things in the fridge and go back to sleep,” he admits, not wishing to waste time.
“You cannot see any foreigners during the day. They all return to their places by sunrise and can be seen outdoors only after 9 pm,” states a general store owner, Vishal.
With most foreigners staying indoors during the day in the north, where a majority are Russians and a few are African, the streets along the coast appear empty, and like most stakeholders, seem to be enjoying a respite from the mad traffic.