It’s not ended, yet. The latest in a series of social media posts hitting out at tourism in Goa is one by a couple of foreigners that accuses a nightclub in the State of being racist towards Indians.
The post, that includes a video, claims that this particular nightclub allowed entry to foreigners for free, but that there was a queue of Indian tourists outside awaiting to enter, even while foreigners were let in.
As expected, such a post would draw reactions, and it did. The responses were of course divided, some of them attempting to find reasons as to why this would be so.
So, what is it that makes Goa tourism tick off the wrong side of certain tourists?
It’s been a few months now that Goa tourism has been at the receiving end of social media posts, even as simultaneously, tourists keep pouring in and do go back with happy memories, even posting these on social media sites.
But, it is the posts that attack Goa, or show Goa in a negative light, that are gaining traction and lead to news reports on mainstream media that draw further reactions from netizens.
It’s been a few months now that Goa tourism has been at the receiving end of social media posts, even as simultaneously, tourists keep pouring in and do go back with happy memories, even posting these on social media sites.
For years, tourism in Goa thrived, before the advent of social media, that allowed visitors to post their views and reviews. It is still thriving, but along with the success, there is the blot of negative vibes that has started trickling in, along with the positive.
One, however, must admit that it is the social media that keeps Goa tourism out of the red. Not just in Goa, but across the world, social media has been driving tourism.
A study found that almost 85 percent of millennials surf through the social media posts of others when planning their vacations.
It further found that around 43 percent of the travellers won’t go on a vacation if they are unsure that their followers will see their vacation posts, and that 34 percent book a hotel because they saw it on social media or because someone who stayed there posted about it.
Wouldn’t it be true that if tourists were forbidden from posting their pictures of Fontainhas and Sao Tome on social media they would stop going there?
It further found that around 43 percent of the travellers won’t go on a vacation if they are unsure that their followers will see their vacation posts, and that 34 percent book a hotel because they saw it on social media or because someone who stayed there posted about it.
Walk through those lanes and look around, it is very obvious that the tourists here are just not engaged in seeing the houses or appreciating the architecture, but are focussed on getting their pictures and photographs taken.
Further, it is the same backgrounds that they have seen on social media that they seek out for their pictures. The same holds true for the famous Maddani road in Parra.
Yet, it is not just travellers who use social media channels, but travel companies, hotels, restaurants and even governments utilise it to promote themselves, their products, their services.
How many of Goa’s tourism companies can claim that they do not have a social media account or don’t use such channels for their promotion?
Anyone can check this out for themselves. Search for hotels at a particular location, and very soon, you will be bombarded with advertisements of various hotels, restaurants at this place or its vicinity.
It is not just travellers who use social media channels, but travel companies, hotels, restaurants and even governments utilise it to promote themselves, their products, their services.
Social media is a two-way street that tourism stakeholders and travellers are using, and with no regulations, there are bound to be frequent clashes. Goa has been experiencing them in the last few months.
However, why isn’t Goa tourism revelling in the positive posts that appear on social media, but instead ends up getting riled up at the negative posts?
There is no way in which Goa will be able to stop the criticism. It will continue. The best way forward is to ignore and concentrate on the positive, and there is much more of the latter than of the former. Simultaneously, there is need to work on improving the services.
For instance, was there a distinction between Indians and foreigners at that particular nightclub? If yes, then it should not have happened and action should be taken.
Social media posts aside, Goa has to present its best front to its visitors. Tourism is an extremely fickle industry with ups and downs, with various factors that can turn the tide.
Social media posts aside, Goa has to present its best front to its visitors. Tourism is an extremely fickle industry with ups and downs, with various factors that can turn the tide.
The rather long string of bad publicity will not come to an abrupt end, but then Goa, too, should not give the tourists, or rather the influencers, occasion and instances to criticise the State. It has to work towards welcoming tourists at all times and ensuring that their stay is pleasant.
