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Goa’s tourism grabbed the highlight final week after a viral publish claiming “overseas vacationers have deserted the state” triggered a barrage of social media reactions, with customers sharing their unfavourable experiences of visiting the state. The state’s tourism division first issued a clarification, after which filed a grievance towards an entrepreneur behind the viral publish.
In an unique interview with The Indian Categorical, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte claims “hidden agenda” and “ulterior motives” could have been at play to malign the picture of the state. He additionally spoke about “inaccurate” comparisons of the state with worldwide locations like Sri Lanka and Thailand, tourism not being a zero-sum recreation and the perils of social media, amongst different points. Excerpts:
*Goa has been within the information over social media posts of “unfavourable experiences” of vacationers, with a couple of claiming tourism was “down within the dumps” as a result of “native taxi mafia” and escalating prices. What’s your take?
Goa has at all times been a most well-liked vacationer vacation spot however yearly we have now any person, some influencer, who seems at it otherwise. Final yr, some individuals tried to defame Goa nevertheless it didn’t work.
We now have positioned figures (of vacationer footfalls) within the Meeting and possibly even in Parliament. Now all of the sudden, a social media publish talks about knowledge from the “China Financial Data Centre”. The minute the phrase China comes, some alarm bells begin ringing. So, it seems like a plan or a hidden agenda to create false propaganda concerning the state, which has been a most well-liked vacation spot of each worldwide and home vacationers.
The figures (within the viral publish) spoke about 8.5 million overseas vacationers in 2019 however that yr, the quantity was not even a million. In 2019, simply earlier than the pandemic, we had 71,27,287 home and 9,37,113 worldwide vacationers. If we evaluate figures with 2023, we had 81,75,460 home and 4,52,702 worldwide vacationers regardless of the Russia-Ukraine warfare and different post-Covid challenges.
Whereas the variety of worldwide vacationers fell through the pandemic, we have now made a restoration. International vacationer arrivals in Goa are at the next share than the remainder of the nation and the restoration is about 50 p.c (of pre-pandemic numbers). By way of home vacationers, we have now already surpassed the pre-pandemic numbers. Within the subsequent quarter, which is the height season (October-December), we have now the exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, IFFI and different festivals. So, we expect a lot of individuals to go to.
*Are you saying there’s false propaganda being unfold to malign the picture of the state?
The false propaganda is possibly with an ulterior motive. This undoubtedly induced concern inside the native communities and led us to behave on it since false knowledge was disseminated on social media. As an extension of the false propaganda, we noticed social media handlers publish about their experiences in Goa. We acknowledge there are some points however each tourism state faces them.
*What are these points?
For example, unlawful touts have been there for a very long time. We now have run an aggressive marketing campaign over the previous two years to weed them out and proceed to take action.
Second, there’s a cost of a “taxi mafia” in Goa. I view it in another way. We now have many worldwide vacationers, who go to Goa yearly and have had a rapport with taxi drivers for many years, and deal with them like an prolonged household resulting from previous experiences. Sure, there are a few rotten apples which spoil the picture of taxi drivers.
In regards to the excessive airfares and lodge prices, the federal government can not curb any charges. The charges are pushed by market forces. If there’s a lodge room being bought at worth “x”, it’s enterprise. It’s a problem and we acknowledge it. We now have additionally been speaking to commerce our bodies, however we can not curb charges. We now have additionally taken up the problem with the Civil Aviation Ministry and wish to broaden connectivity as we have to hook up with extra rising markets just like the UAE, south-east Asian international locations, Germany and western Europe.
*Many individuals declare they’ve cancelled their Goa plans and are as an alternative travelling to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam…
I can’t take (agree) with the comparability of Goa with different international locations as we’re a small state of 1.5 million, which caters to 10 million vacationers yearly. We’re not being in comparison with different states in India however primarily based on false knowledge, are being in comparison with different international locations. It looks like a conspiracy to defame a most well-liked vacationer vacation spot within the nation.
Publish Covid, travellers wish to discover extra locations. As a traveller, if I’m coming to Goa, I’m additionally going to Thailand, to Vietnam in addition to Europe. For somebody to unfold “don’t go to Goa” appears to be an prolonged false propaganda. You inform me what’s flawed and we’ll appropriate ourselves. Our economic system relies on tourism and contributes 16.43% to the GDP of the state and generates 35-40% of the state’s employment.
Sadly, social media has no limits. So, no matter one says turns into the reality if they’ve a sure following. Somebody ought to realise we’re “one India, unbelievable India” and we can not consider selling different international locations after we are right here. We will undoubtedly journey to different international locations…
*The tourism division filed a police grievance in response to the net criticism. If incorrect knowledge was shared, the federal government may have put out appropriate knowledge. Why the grievance?
What do you anticipate the state to do? Do we have now to be sympathetic to somebody who’s taking part in with the nation and the state? Are you able to think about any person disseminating Chinese language knowledge and Indians are speaking about it? Our knowledge is accessible within the public area. Take that and talk about with us.
Nevertheless, solely knowledge is just not the reply. Publish Covid, we have to speak about high quality over amount. Vacationers immediately desire a extra immersive expertise and wish to journey to tranquil locations. We at the moment are selling Goa past the seashores.
We’re additionally engaged on bringing in vacationers whose per capita spending is greater and specializing in offering infrastructure, governance and companies. Our insurance policies promote dwelling stays, caravan tourism and regenerative tourism the place we’re showcasing our custom, festivals, tradition, eco-tourism and selling the state as a marriage vacation spot.
The intention of those (defaming) social media posts, which got here at first of the height vacationer season, is just like what occurred final yr. This can be a concern for the state. It appears to be a scientific plan. I’m involved as a result of Goa is dependent upon tourism and therefore the grievance was lodged.
I’m certain whoever complains (about unhealthy experiences) may also go to Goa. Goans have hospitality of their blood. Right here, we consider the vacationer is God and wish to give everybody a great expertise.
*Has the Russia-Ukraine battle and developments in West Asia affected the variety of worldwide vacationers visiting the state?
The continued conflicts have affected the numbers. Israel was speculated to open up (as a market) in massive numbers this yr however couldn’t as a result of battle. Some formidable markets bought curtailed as a result of warfare however we have now reached pre-Covid numbers with regard to vacationers from the UK and Russia.
Rome was not in-built an evening, neither can we. We’re taking a variety of proactive steps. We might love for each vacationer to come back to Goa and have a great expertise.
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