Having read this site for a while now and being a regular visitor to Goa it saddens me to hear about what is going on.
I am off there next week and will experience the changes for myself.
However, being an ex member of the "Travel Industry" I have been doing a little thinking.....
I feel it is time for the FTO to put pressure on the Government in Goa, both State and Panchyat, Hoteliers, suppliers taxi drivers and venue owners to realise that if they do not make some changes they are going to lose their livelyhood.
The FTO need to work with the above and thrash out a way forward such as,
Ensuring all taxi drivers use their meters or give clear price guidelines
Monitor police activities and push out the back-hander cops,
Give a clear set of rules and guidelines for shack-owners, bar owners and hoteliers to work with,
Use some of that extortionate local tax to improve the roads, street lights, litter problems etc.
Employ life guards on the beach, for safety and to minimise the number of beach sellers/beggers,
Make the Visa/immigration business a little less complication/daunting
From the FTO side,
Offer training to key hotel staff in food hygiene, fire safety etc.
Most tour operators will be willing to help businesses improve income and revenue particularly hoteliers.
This slight improvement could improve bookings and make it more appealing.
I know I am preaching to the converted and Fiona if this has been mentioned before please merge, but we have to do something to save our favourite holiday destination
Al
A very laudable post but i fear its not going to happen. Goa is part of India and in India corruption permeates all levels of society, if you know your Indian politics, just think of the likes of the state of Bihar, and how criminals hold sway in every level of goverment there.
Goa is not too concerned as to the U.K. tourist market, next year the Russian numbers are going to pass the U.K. ones and the number of tourists from other parts of India grow yearly. The loss of the U.K. market will be more than offset by the rise from those quarters. The Russian market is huge, the flight times are shorter and the tourists from there are replete with U.S.$ which they seem to have in great numbers, and the corruption that greets them everywhere, will not come as such a culture shock, as it does to us
Alan
Goa is not too concerned as to the U.K. tourist market, next year the Russian numbers are going to pass the U.K. ones and the number of tourists from other parts of India grow yearly. The loss of the U.K. market will be more than offset by the rise from those quarters. The Russian market is huge, the flight times are shorter and the tourists from there are replete with U.S.$ which they seem to have in great numbers, and the corruption that greets them everywhere, will not come as such a culture shock, as it does to us
Alan
A request here that we do not discuss how the government is run.
I have to agree with Alan about the influence we can have on the holiday industry. A short plane journey away in Mumbai, you can pay as much for one night in a hotel as you do for a week in Goa. The same is true in Delhi. ( the only two cities I have researched hotel prices for by the way) However, if Goa continues to successfully promote itself to the local market, you might find that a lot of the changes you want may happen anyway.
I have to agree with Alan about the influence we can have on the holiday industry. A short plane journey away in Mumbai, you can pay as much for one night in a hotel as you do for a week in Goa. The same is true in Delhi. ( the only two cities I have researched hotel prices for by the way) However, if Goa continues to successfully promote itself to the local market, you might find that a lot of the changes you want may happen anyway.
Ok Fiona the overnight accommodation may be more in Mumbai - we usually pay 1200rps per night - but other things compensate for this. Get in a taxi without having to ask the price - we usually pay 27rps to make a city journey and going to the Airport cost us 400rps from India Gate which is further than to Dabolim from Calangute. Restaurants are a lot cheaper, cleaner and more choice of food. Street food is wonderful, freshly cooked and cheap. And there are pavements to walk on which are cleaned every evening.
Just a note to this - we paid 350rps for a taxi to Tivim Station to catch the Mumbai train and paid 208rps for the train journey
There is a kind of hygiene test that is supposed to be taken by people employed in the catering industry in Goa which seems to have been forgotten about. There is a good catering school at the bottom of Holiday Street but these students probably go to 5 star hotels or travel abroad to work.
Life guards are employed but usually found sitting together chatting and smoking without a care about the people they were supposed to be watching. The ones at the bottom of Calangute steps were last seen sitting under a sea facing umbrella like they were tourists.
Beach beggars and sellers should not be there - that is the duty of Tourist Police but the less said about them the better.
Just a note to this - we paid 350rps for a taxi to Tivim Station to catch the Mumbai train and paid 208rps for the train journey
There is a kind of hygiene test that is supposed to be taken by people employed in the catering industry in Goa which seems to have been forgotten about. There is a good catering school at the bottom of Holiday Street but these students probably go to 5 star hotels or travel abroad to work.
Life guards are employed but usually found sitting together chatting and smoking without a care about the people they were supposed to be watching. The ones at the bottom of Calangute steps were last seen sitting under a sea facing umbrella like they were tourists.
Beach beggars and sellers should not be there - that is the duty of Tourist Police but the less said about them the better.
narial wrote:Ok Fiona the overnight accommodation may be more in Mumbai - we usually pay 1200rps per night - but other things compensate for this. Get in a taxi without having to ask the price - we usually pay 27rps to make a city journey and going to the Airport cost us 400rps from India Gate which is further than to Dabolim from Calangute. Restaurants are a lot cheaper, cleaner and more choice of food. Street food is wonderful, freshly cooked and cheap. And there are pavements to walk on which are cleaned every evening.
Exactly- and that is why I think more Indian tourists in Goa may make the difference everyone wants.
Unfortunately, it will come at the cost of dearer hotels.
Hi Narial, slightly 
this (sorry Fiona), but I'd like the name of that Hotel please and contact No....that's a very good price for a Hotel in Mumbai.
Thanks, GFF xx
this (sorry Fiona), but I'd like the name of that Hotel please and contact No....that's a very good price for a Hotel in Mumbai.Thanks, GFF xx
goldenflipflop - have just pm'd you
Dont know if it's a sign of the times or not but the hotel school at the foot of Holiday Street has closed down this season. I was always impressed by the students smart turnout when you saw them in the morning on their way down the Street. Alan
Goa is not too concerned as to the U.K. tourist market
outsidespottys I agree with your outlined proposals but at this moment in time I don't think anyone with any power in Goa will listen to any foreigners discussion especially that from anyone in UK. For some reason there would appear to be a backlash against British tourists.
I would imagine the filth will pile up (CCB North) for another season. Greed rules and it seems every opportunity to make money will be exploited. All this of course was predicted a few years back by many Goan people, it seems that no one wants to learn lessons.
There is not the will for change that we would want in Goa by the people in power. And as already said, the British tourists are not their top priority. They are much more interested in the Russian and domestic tourists. It will be interesting to see how many charters there are next season, but I definitely think the ship has sailed for Goa
Great proposals.Sadly we are talking about india and it will never happen.
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
What do you look forward to most?
Posted by dramaqueen in General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips
-
What do you look forward to?
Posted by Gooorooo in Turkey Discussion Forum
-
Looking forward to February
Posted by Bhoy Gerry in Goa Discussion Forum
-
Looking forward to the holiday even more now
Posted by roxey in Goa Discussion Forum
-
Do the clocks go forward in Goa?
Posted by gazthomas in Goa Discussion Forum