Foreign tourists seek to soak up the sun in Goa this April

In an unexpected twist, the April sun shines on Goa, sending a ray of hope to tourism stakeholders as foreign tourists, enamoured by the State, its beaches and its people plan return holidays
Many foreign tourists are already making plans to return to Goa in April.
SUNSHINY DAYS: Foreign tourists, enamoured by Goa, its beaches and its people, are planning return holidays to the state.Photo: Gomantak Times
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March-end is the time of the (tourist) season when foreign tourists prepare to leave Goa. The good news, however, is that many of them have decided to return to Goa to continue their vacations in April.

They may not return in big numbers, but just the fact that they have decided to holiday in a month that most avoid, is indication that the world has yet not had enough of Goa.

Many foreign tourists are already making plans to return to Goa in April.
Why tourists are ditching North Goa and heading south

There have been queries whether shacks will be open in April; whether restaurants will be open; whether rooms will be available; whether it will be possible to use the beaches.

Obviously, many who have decided to return in April will be doing so for the first time, and most of them do not seem bothered by the summer heat that makes itself felt from April onwards, although this year we are experiencing it in mid-March.

There have been queries whether shacks will be open in April; whether restaurants will be open; whether rooms will be available; whether it will be possible to use the beaches.

The heat does not seem to have affected tourists as much as it has affected the touts around the Calangute-Baga beach belt. There were two incidents, and both show not just the industry in bad light, but also the state of the human mind.

First, a family from Odisha was forcibly taken to a tattoo studio, beaten up and at the end, even the police appeared to have played complicit. Our guests were, this time, saved by a lady from Goa.

Many foreign tourists are already making plans to return to Goa in April.
Domestic tourists keep home fires burning in Morjim, Ashwem

Going by reports, members of the family from Odisha were forcefully taken into a tattoo shop, bashed, robbed and after they went to complain, were asked by the police to compromise. What a shame! Do we now need influencers to tarnish the name of Goa?

By the end of this season, consistent tensions between tourists and locals will be the new trend. But, a tourist snatching the keys of an ambulance was taking it to far. Not only was the key snatched, but the tourist told shocked bystanders that he was waiting for the police to arrive. Unbelievable!

Not only was the key snatched, but the tourist told shocked bystanders that he was waiting for the police to arrive. Unbelievable!

Worse, a lady who was last seen in a bar in North Goa was reported missing. These incidents do not speak well for an industry that is coming out of the morass set by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite all that was said, written or shown during December – and outside sources did have a big hand in it – the season perked up well after New Year, much better than was expected, and the icing on the cake was the late arrival of foreign tourists.

Many foreign tourists are already making plans to return to Goa in April.
Reasons behind Goa's low tourist turnout this December

If tourism is weighed on spending, an Indian in Goa is a tourist and so can be a Goan. Look beyond spending, and that cap fits foreigners best, not just in Goa but anywhere, just like Indians are anywhere else.

A tourist carries with him the culture of his country, his society, and it is evident through behaviour and etiquette. If a local feels uncomfortable with the brethren of his own country, it boils down to upbringing or etiquette.

Brand Goa is not about its natural beauty – there is hardly any left after the indiscriminate destruction of nature – but because of its people and slowly, they are reducing in numbers, and that is the fear.

India is beautiful. It has places that far outweigh the scenic beauty of Goa, and yet, Brand Goa is too much for all to take. People who have come before, keep coming again and that explains why they have been coming for years.

Brand Goa is not about its natural beauty – there is hardly any left after the indiscriminate destruction of nature – but because of its people and slowly, they are reducing in numbers, and that is the fear.

If the people of Goa decide to move elsewhere and their places are usurped by others, then there will be nothing left, and the tourists who are thinking of coming to get the feel of summer, may just begin to think that once is enough!

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