Adaptability is not just for individuals. Once a preferred destination for many, the coastal destination of Goa has been receiving fewer tourists on New Year.
External factors impact individuals as well as businesses, and that is why experts stress so much on adaptability.
Goa used to be the preferred costal destination, not just for Indians, but even for foreigners at some time.
However, things are different today.
Not only foreigners, even Indians are looking at alternate destinations.
So what changed?
Ongoing Wars
Goa used to get a lot of foreign tourists from Russia and Israel.
However, both the regions are involved in conflicts which has significantly affected the flow of tourists from those regions.
Goa usually gets around 3 to 4 lakh tourists from Russia and around 40,000 tourists from Ukraine annually.
However, these numbers have dropped significantly.
Getting Expensive
The cost of living in Goa has been increasing in recent years. As a result, accommodation, food, and transportation costs have increased, which has made Goa travel expensive. As a result, tourists are checking out other alternatives. On the other hand, destinations in South East Asia, such as Vietnam have become cheaper. This is tempting tourists (including Indian tourists) to change their travel plans.Taxi Mafia
For any great tourist destination, convenient and affordable transportation option is an important factor as it enables visitors to explore the various experiences without significantly affecting their budget.
In Goa, there are literary no public transport options and you have to depend on the local cabs for local travel.
And they charge exorbitant fares.
It is so bad that, in some cases, taxi fares from the airport to some hotels in Goa cost more than flight ticket. Cab operators even charge round-trip fare to some places even if you have to go just one way.
Taxi operators also bully people who offer rides to tourists.
It is really surprising that a destination like Goa that attracts tourists from all over, lacks affordable and reliable public transport system.
Pressure on Locals
A welcoming atmosphere is important to makes tourists comfortable. With fewer foreign tourists coming to Goa now, the atmosphere also seems to have changed.
North Goa is lively whereas South Goa is more serene and preferred by foreigners.
Of late, Indians travelling to South Goa have experienced that they miss the warmth that one expects on arriving at a tourist destination.
Probably because these tourists do not spend as much as the foreigners.Beaches Are Getting Crowded
With foreign visitors dwindling, some hotels have started lowering their prices to stay operational.
As a result, certain beaches become too crowded during holidays and long weekends.
There are also reports that certain beaches are too dirty.
Other Indian Alternatives
Indian tourists have been exploring other places in India and sharing their experiences on social media.
Gokarna (coastal town in Karnataka), in particular, is turning out to be great a substitute for Goa, for the young Indians and even foreigners.
Key Takeaways
Goa presents a good example of how changes in the external environment can impact a destination.
While the planners may not have control over conflicts in other regions, complacency seems to have set in as Goa is losing out to other tourist destinations.Other (competitive) destinations, on the other hand, are building the right infrastructure and taking measures to attract more visitors.
The key takeaway here is that adaptability is key to surviving in the modern era.This is not just for individuals and businesses but also for destinations.
It is important to continually keep an eye on the changes taking place in the environment and assess how it’s going to impact you.
Adapting to these changes is the only way to survive.
