as Demis Roussos once sang-------For ever and ever,well compared to a lot of other holiday destinations anyway. paula

The more people go to goa, the richer the locals will get. it is human nature to try and improve ones life. because of that, things will become more expensive. shops restraunts, stalls, and markets etc, will charge as much as they can for thier wares and sevices. over tipping will also contribute, because it shows we are willing to pay more!! THIS WILL BE THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE WILL STOP GOING THERE.
it will be a sad day when it comes, but i think it is inevitable in the future.
i hope its a long way off though. BOB

Very optimistic responses. I hope it stays the same for ever and ever... however, looking back at how Colva was 10-12 years back, I find it hard to believe it will not lose some of its charm...

Who has been to the most beaches in Goa?

Starting from the South (Rajbag, Patnem, Canacona, Palolem, Agonda, Betul, Cavelossim, Varca, Benaulim, Colva, Betalbatim, Majorda, Bogmalo, Aguada, Sinquerim, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator, Morjim, Asvem, Arambol)

I have only been to Benaulim, Colva, Calangute, Anjuna & Vagator. I would like to travel from the South to the North in 2008 visiting all these beaches. Do all these beaches have some activity like shacks, restaurants and hotels...

we westerners, cannot and must not,expect goa to stand still. it would be great for us if it did, but not for the goans.
while i think it is great for us to be able to get such a cheap destination, i don't expect it to stay that way forever.
when it reaches the same price as (at the moment) other resorts, then they will have to compete equally with the others. which may not be favorable to them!!!
i ask this question :- how many would go to goa if it became very expensive and could go to other places, which are perhaps nicer and less poverty, and even cleaner????
maybe it will become a resort for the rich indian people only!!
BOB

hi all
if the goan people remain as friendly and relaxed as they are , they seem to have a certain charm , the culture is so welcoming and when im there it has an effect on me , and i feel i can learn from their way of life , then i will continue to go even if the prices rise to compare with the uk anita

The changes will probably arise as more Indian people start to become wealthier, India as a country is slowly becoming one of the worlds big players as regards exports ect are concerned.All the big companies are starting to become aware of it's potential as a good investment and are starting to invest in the country, which in turn creates jobs which creates guarrateed income for the people. Three of my workmates (from Kerala) have bought property in Cochin and the money they have made due to the boom in property/land prices in India is frightening.We have all noticed the increase in the numbers of the Mumbai weekenders over the last few years, also IMO the way they treat the staff in the shacks is a disgrace. I personally dont think the Goan people would willingly want to change towards European tourists but unfortunately change is inevitable.

strange question - do you really go there only because of the cheap prices? I personally have visited Greece, Portugal, France ect. and never for the cheap prices but for the emotions I get. And I will go there again.
About Goa? Higher prices do not take away the breath-taking beauty of this country and friendliness/hospitality of Indian people. It will not take away the many thousand years of culture aso.aso.
If some of the fans of Goa in this Forum travel there only because of the cheap prices then I would like the prices to rise quicker. And let the ones, who like the country as it is, be happy with their holidays there.
elephant

Very well said elephant, that's how I feel about the subject. I choose to visit India and Goa, because I love the country, not for a cheap holiday. In fact when I go t isn't really cheap ( Christmas/ New Year ) I have been to the Dom Republic, Kuba and Mexico for the same price, but Goa has so much more to offer, there are all types of acommodation from coco huts on the beach, luxury resorts, charming guesthouses, and boutique hotels. And the all-inclusive culture that dominates the carribean hasn't invaded yet.
Of course there will be changes, no country is going to remain in a " time warp " The country I grew up in ( England ) is nothing like the land I remember as a child, and a lot of the changes have not been for the better.

<<<THIS WILL BE THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE WILL STOP GOING THERE>>> no bobthebus, not all the people will not stop.
<<<maybe it will become a resort for the rich indian people only!! >>> whats wrong with indian people who start enjoing the possibilities of their own country?
elephant

With you Elephant, I don't go to Goa for a 2 week package cheap as chips holiday. Can get a flight to Spain and do that. In fact I am still amazed how cheap it is to get a holiday in Goa and I take full advantage of it.
I love the place, its changed a great deal, I still hanker after the old days when Candolim beach road was just that, a few stalls, cattle and pigs wandering about - now its full of glass fronted shops but hey ho good luck to them.
I still think there is nowhere like it and can't see me changing my mind, roll on November 3rd

Elephant, I go to Goa for the same reasons as probably all the people who use this forum, and although we all have our own opinions on things like, is it getting busier, is it getting dearer, will they ever get their act together regarding tourists, the airport porters ect. ect. the ONE thing we ALL AGREE on is the uniqueness that Goa has to offer and our love of the place (whether it be north or south) Another reason we chose Goa was the time of year we go away,there are'nt many places you can go to in Feb and be guarranteed the weather we get in Goa,and finally regarding the cost, I am pretty sure we have all bought jewellery or had clothes tailor made, at one time or another (which is something you dont do on every holiday you take) and although we all agree that it's value for money you still have to take this into account when working out how much your overall holiday will cost...we would all love Goa to remain as it is, but it is changing (for better or worse? we will have to wait and see) In the meantime we should all enjoy it for what it is at present, and make the most of what it has to offer......thanks Keith...(KJF)

Goa is changing quite rapidly - far too rapidly for things like their water supplies. There are different types of tourists who go there now too . Those that show no respect for the culture or its natives. In fact some make me ashamed to be white.
I still love North Goa but it is becoming too touristy and commercialised for my taste so this year will split my time between north and south but have a feeling I will stay south in future. I never want to stop going to Goa. I would willingly sell up and move there inthe not too distant future but my OH has his sensible head on.

In Roxeys post she remarks tha Beach Rd. Candolin has gone from a few stalls with cattle and pigs wandering about to a street full of glass fronted shops. My main concern is that the vast majority of them are owned by and staffed by out of staters and very little benifit finds it's way to the Goan people. It' widely thought that most of this money is coming from shadey operators who have to find a way to launder their proceeds and in the final analysis very little benifit comes to the local population If you speak to some of the original shopowners wha are Goan born and long established they are very worried for the future of their state but are powerless to do anything about the money flooding in, and the level of corruption that goes hand in hand with it. Alan

elephant
as you may gather i am a bus driver. the price i pay is very important to me. i am not a rich person, but i have found an exotic destination that i can pretty much afford. when that destination becomes too expensive for me, i won't be able to go again.
as in my previous posts, i have made it clear, i don't expect goa to stand still economically. selfish as it may be, as long as i can go there the better!! i hope that goa can prosper, and there is an end to the poverty degredation a lot of the people suffer, as i would hope it will end in OUR country.
BOB

sorry forgot to say, theres nothing wrong with the indian people using goa as a holiday resort. i was just commenting on the way i think it will go.
i know of one hotel who hope to get out of the european market, and deal only with the indian people, and that is one of my favorite hotels the CSM.
i understand from some goan friends that they are not the only ones to be thinking that way.
BOB

thanks Fiona- that was little over the edge? was it not?

edit
elephant
I think this is just a case of misunderstanding- you and bob both love Goa and its people. I don't think Bob took offence at your post- he was just explaining what he meant more fully.
Fiona

Bobs quite right, i heard the same about the CSM. Another one that went that way a few seasons ago was the Goan Heritage that got fed up with the big u.k. tour companies and went more and more for the domestic market that tends to use the Hotel more and take all in short stay packages. The original hotels from the mid eighties such as the infamous Donna Alcena in Candolim and the Onidas Del Mar down Holiday Rd in Calangute are in the sad state they are because of the treatment they have had from the big companies, cutting what the will pay them for their rooms, and as more and more accomodation becomes available the big players just play off one against the other leaving them less and less of the hundreds of pounds taken from the holidaymakers. If you ever get the chance to talk to some of those hotel owners and managers you would'nt believe what the get for each room, it's a scandal. Alan

hi fiona and elephant.

no i haven't taken any offence.
i mearly thought i was being mis-understood and have tried to clarify my points of view.
they do still remain just my opinion though., and everyone else is entitled to theirs!!
BOB