Late night weekend parties appear to draw tourists as the summer heat has begun to take its toll on visitors in North Goa. Yet, with a drop in tourist inflow, many bars and restaurants have started closing earlier than usual.
“The bar and restaurant section closes at 9 pm now, but the bakery section is open till 11 pm. There is hardly any crowd during the week, and it is only during the weekend that the number increases,” admits Michael, who runs a prominent eat-out place in North Goa.
Whilst the flow of tourists to Calangute, Candolim and Baga was steady in April, a stutter is being felt in the extreme north of Goa, with the last Russian tourist charter set to leave in a few days.
“The number of lower middle-class, drive-in tourists will continue through the year. That number will not change, but its impact on the industry is negligible. It adds to the numbers, but not financially,” reasons Jason, who works for a travel agency in Calangute.
The flow of tourists and the number of tourist guides, most of who are not locals, was rather striking last weekend, especially in Baga and Calangute. It is, however, the outstation guides who have been an eyesore to local stakeholders due to cases of fleecing, harassment and extortion.
“One will rarely find a guide from Goa misleading tourists or trying to make them feel vulnerable after offering them services. There have been cases where tourists have been fleeced while opting to get tattoos done,” said Mohan, who has been in the business for long years.
Whilst whistle stop eat-outs are still doing well in most parts of North Goa, those running restaurants serving authentic local food have begun to feel the pinch of low footfalls.
“With a drop in high-end tourists, I have sent part of my staff on holiday and we are working on half board as the numbers are not the same anymore. We expect to be back running on full steam around October,” opines Mark, who manages a restaurant in Baga.
Whilst whistle stop eat-outs are still doing well in most parts of North Goa, those running restaurants serving authentic local food have begun to feel the pinch of low footfalls.
“This is the time when we wait for the locals who come out to beat the heat by visiting the beach. Though the numbers are not high, it keeps us going, and the menu is tailored to suit their tastes,” admits Mark.
Most late-night party spots are open around Vagator, Anjuna, Morjim and Arambol, though the footfalls are not so high, and a few close late the next day as customers do drop in.
“With most places being in the open, and there being no air-conditioning, the summer heat is taking its toll on late night party-goers. Only a few places are sound proof and hence have air-conditioning,” argues Ajit, who manages a late-night place in the north.
With a low flow of traffic at night, traffic snarls are not visible, though the number of cars with outstation number plates has not decreased, and traffic police checks continue well past midnight in certain pockets of North Goa, specifically Vagator and Anjuna.
With a decrease in takers for night-time activities along the northern coastal belt, locals have managed to rest better at night, and the focus of many is now to count their profits.
With a decrease in takers for night-time activities along the northern coastal belt, locals have managed to rest better at night, and the focus of many is now to count their profits.
“All in all, it has been a good season with occasional blurs from people who have tried to step into roles crafted for locals. Hence, the occasional complaints from visitors,” admitted a tourist guide, Steve.
Despite the slump in numbers, stakeholders across Goa believe that good things have no end point.