The impact of the Covid-19 outbreak has driven the tourism sector into a massive uncertainty, as several businesses are yet to be sure to begin their operations due to growing Covid cases in the state.
By Salma Fernandes
The beautiful state of Goa, which is traditionally known as the Paradise of touristic destinations, is blessed with natural beauty, cultural diversity, heritage sites, churches, temples and its unique beaches.
Goa is said to be one of the most famous tourist destinations worldwide.
When did Tourism evolve in Goa?
So it all started during the mid 60’s when the western hippy travellers pioneered the aesthetic, untouched beaches. Back then tourism in Goa never existed.
The North Goa and South Goa districts are blessed with a unique charm. North Goa offers one the fascinating nightlife, liveliness, fun, shopping, etc. South Goa is known for its peaceful, calm and natural environment.
Tourism has definitely brought worldwide fame to Goa, producing heaps of jobs in the state for locals to earn their living. Other than that there have been some bad influences of tourism as well.
Economically, tourism generated tremendous revenues. It additionally helped in growing infrastructure in the state from its revenue. However, things have transformed now. Under the appearance of development the environment is being sacrificed. Some coastal regions have turned out to be concrete jungles. It has been losing its charm.
Mainly tourism in Goa lies on the coastal belt. Candolim-Baga stretch is a hotspot for water sport activities, night clubs, shacks, etc.
Likewise, Anjuna is known among the foreign tourists for its flea market. However, last season due to the lockdown of the pandemic the flea market had to be shut.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, the absence of charter flights has seen no foreign tourists coming to Goa, but has witnessed an increase in the domestic tourists visiting Goa during the pandemic.
Most of the locals are facing hard times since the pandemic. Many local restaurants, guest houses, shacks, travel agencies were shut during the season due the absence of foreign tourists that were their regular guests/customers.
While talking to some of the locals associated in the tourism industry, they bemoaned the fact that tourism is rapidly changing in Goa and how the pandemic has affected their business.
Quentin Fernandes (Quincy) from Candolim, who has been in the tourism industry for more than 30 years, said that back then when he started the bar and restaurant, the kind of tourists he catered to were backpackers and European clients that looked for rooms rented out by the locals. As time passed by, most of the locals sold their lands to the outsiders through which many hotels were built.
He also said that since the time Goa was known as a 365 days holiday destination many Indian tourists started coming to Goa which has had a positive as well as negative outcome for some of the local businesses. However, we have seen good things as well as bad things occurring in the tourism industry, such as drugs, prostitution, scams, etc.
Talking about the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, he said that his business has been shut since the lockdown due to the absence of his regular European customers.
He also mentioned that the type of Indian tourists he has witnessed initially during the pandemic are the ones that are looking for happening places and they mainly visit Goa for weekends and short holidays.
Furthermore he said that the middle class people who own small businesses are suffering. However most of the hotels and resorts are doing good. The Covid-19 outbreak has affected the small-time businesses very badly.
“I don’t see tourism the same way in the future. Definitely changes will take place,” said Quentin Fernandes.
To conclude he said that the only thing middle class businessmen will have to do is to divert their minds to do business with domestic tourists.
Jude Pinto, the owner of Jude Pinto Tours & Travels said that Covid-19 has dramatically altered life as we all know. And the travel and tourism sector is uniquely exposed, it has fundamentally altered the future of the travel agency business. He also said that there has been a major impact on the initial efforts to address cancellations, refunds and rebooking, etc. And this has definitely caused a loss in business.
In addition he said that everyone has to take their own precautions. The government has implemented several guidelines to the visitors visiting Goa and they should definitely beware of the same because they are visiting another state and should not create any problem in the late future.
To sum up he said that the outlook for the tourism sector remains highly uncertain as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. And he has no plans for the coming season but in hope for the situation to get back to normal.
The owner of Lobo’s shack at the Candolim-Calangute stretch, Rocky Lobo, said that due to the ongoing pandemic he was unable to put up his shack last season and has gone through a major loss that has affected his business terribly. He also stated that for him his business depended only on the European tourists.
“Many of my European customers texted me saying they are unable to come to Goa for at least another 2 years,” said Rocky Lobo.
Furthermore, he said that the coming season he has no plans for putting up the shack since he is already at a loss. And the type of Indian tourists coming to Goa on weekends are the ones that are not willing to spend which will make no profits to his business.
Josephine Fernandes the owner of a guest house based in Candolim was disheartened about the fact that she has lost her regular customers she catered to due to the pandemic, and was forced to shut her guest house. However she is hoping for the comeback of the foreign tourists and her regular customers this coming season.
(Writer is a student at Don Bosco College, Panaji)
