Hi, go back to the message board front page where you have a choice of threads, at the bottom of the page it says 'new topic'. Click that.

it must be remembered that the new visa rules are a national directive, and not the brainchild ( if he has a brain ) of this man.

I agree with what Gramps said.

In fact, I think there will be a lot of people (hoteliers, restaurant/bar/shack/shop owners, beach sellers and maybe even Micky the Tourism Minister) who will be very surprised to see the number of UK holidaymakers dwindle.

OK, there will still be the first-timers and those people who go twice in a season but more than 2 months apart.
However, the tourists who stay for 6 months may find that they are only granted a 3 month visa next year, and those people who like to pick up last minute bargains (I mut admit that when we've returned home (usually mid March) I look to see if we can squeeze another fortnight in before the end of the season) - they'll not spend as long in Goa as they previously did.

moles, kent wrote:

Hi, go back to the message board front page where you have a choice of threads, at the bottom of the page it says 'new topic'. Click that.

Or to the top left of the main Goa page. There is also a New Topic button there.

luci

It dosn't seem like anyone is too bothered by the reduction in visitors from the UK, down south, but there were never as many as in the North.

http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/7609-tourism-thriving-along-salcete-beaches

xx lassi

It will be interesting to see what they are saying this time next year.

I may be wrong but my observations of domestic tourists is they visit Goa on 3 or 5 day all inclusive packages which also includes local drinks (don't suppose many would spend on imported booze) so I don't imagine that many will spend much for the extras - as we do. They do potter around the towns but I also don't expect many will browse the "tat" shops/stalls and actually making purchases, (they probably won't want it, they can get it any day of the week at home) - as we do. Many have their own transport so I can't imagine them using local buses and taxi's, if they do they won't pay "tourist price" - as we do. Some use the shacks but I expect they will only pay local price - we pay tourist price; same for the markets. Bet they don't generally use the supermarkets either.

Yes, the hotel's might be doing fairly well (at the moment) but we spread our hard earned cash (or is it doles! :banghead:) around the local economy generally, these smaller businesses are the ones who will suffer the most because of the reduction in European footfall to their shores!

A Goan hotel manager friend of mine told me that he's seen some of the Russians putting food from the breakfast buffet in their bags to eat later so they don't have to spend money on food during the day, (he stopped them doing it)! - not saying they're all like that but I don't think all the Russians have as much to spend as the Tourist Minister might think.

I would have thought that any tourist industry is reliant on visitor numbers from across the Globe - not just from domestic or Eastern European and Scandinavian. Short term view - short term gain IMHO

They should Never put all your eggs in one basket Fizz

Hi Dave Wales

i am one of those people who live here and spend my money here and one of those who they WILL NOT GIVE A RESIDENCE PERMIT TO or AN X VISA can you explain that one to me.

I am retired and spend alot more money here over a year than a tourist, why they want to get rid of us people i don't know, do you ????? why do they want people like me to go and spend my money in another country instead of India ?????.

Mike

Hi Dave Wales

i am one of those people who live here and spend my money here and one of those who they WILL NOT GIVE A RESIDENCE PERMIT TO or AN X VISA can you explain that one to me.

I am retired and spend alot more money here over a year than a tourist, why they want to get rid of us people i don't know, do you ????? why do they want people like me to go and spend my money in another country instead of India ?????.

Mike

How should I know Mike !
I hear what you are saying and empathise with your situation. There is obviously something amiss somewhere and it's not the "ordinary" tourist that the government is after.
On a national basis the issue may well be terrorism but the local Goan government seem to have taken the opportunity to intepret this as very much a tourism and residency issue.
It's not the first nor will it be the last time that foreign nationals in many parts of the world have outstayed their welcome for a multitude of reasons. Hey, it even happens in some parts of Wales !!! Why it's happening in Goa, well, you are the man on the spot, you have far more awareness of what the source and size of the problem is.
All I know is at the moment the Indian Government is likely to loose a substantial amount of revenue in British £'s, where ever it's source.( and that includes some of me) If they are prepared to do so then they presumably know what they are doing.
cheers
Dave

Mike is right - we are here for 6 months at a time. We earned our pension by working all our lives and saving hard. We eat in a shack most days, and if we do not go out in the evening for a meal, - well naturally, we have to purchase meat vegetables etc from the local shops. So I do not understand what the tourist minister is on about Does he think we don't eat. Has he forgotten the people we employ, cleaners, gardeners, security. pool attendants. I know for a fact that local resturants are very worried for the next season. The 5* guests rarely come out of the hotels.

Mickey P be careful for what you wish for - soon it will be too late.

p.s. have you seen Goa advertised in your local travel agents this year? We have not.

I think it's a case of 'throwing the baby out with the bath water'. To get at unwanted expats who have purchased land/property cheaply in India, they are targetting all tourists. All under the guise of terror threats. I still don't see what is being accomplished anyway, re terrorism.

I think this guy is one of many Indians who just don't forget that India was once under British rule. They are determined to flex their muscles now, ensuring that Brits don't form communities in Goa, and showing us who is boss. Petty? yes.
They will all regret this when the economy suffers, but he will have the self-satisfaction of knowing that he made changes that will prevent Brits living cheaply in Goa. Another saying comes to mind - cutting off your nose, to spite your face.

Many foreign nationals, including Indians, come to the UK and settle, buying property. Yet they prevent anyone of non Indian origin from ever owning their own home in Goa. The most you can do is lease somewhere for up to 5 years, yet gullible tourists are still being allowed to be swindled out of their savings thinking they will be able to buy a home and live happily in Goa. After this new ruling they won't even be able to stay for more than 180 days at a time. No more coming back to the UK for a couple of weeks to see family. If they leave India, which they must, to renew their visa, they can't now return for over 2 months.
Very few will get more than a 3-month visa in the very near future (90 days).

How are tourist numbers looking out there at the moment, (north&south) we are due out in a few weeks. I know tourism was well down last Feb/March as we were there, and occupancy at the Marinha Dourada was only at 60% and that info was from the manager (Edwin) Anyone out there if you could just let us know.........thanks Keith,,

I think this guy is one of many Indians who just don't forget that India was once under British rule. They are determined to flex their muscles now, ensuring that Brits don't form communities in Goa, and showing us who is boss. Petty? yes.

The two month rule isn't just for UK passport holders, it's for every nationality. Don't forget, this is an Indian government decision not a Goan one.

This man seems to be a complete cretin.Whatever his personal views for a Government Minister to use language the way he did is ridiculous.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes which we do not know.Politics abound.

As for other Nationalities visiting Goa from what I have seen the Russians argue about every rupee and frequently do not want to pay at all.

I am afraid to say if they are looking for the domestic market to save Goa I cannot see it happening.

All the Indians I see are cheap charlies.Very much on a budget tending to stay in the hotels on their package and to be honest I am not sure I have seen any of them drink.

It would be interesting to know what the restaurant owners thought of domestic tourists.

The market they really need to crack is France and Germany but I cannot see them tolerating the standards.

Papa

For some nationalities they are relaxing their rules, even allowing them to get their visa on arrival, instead of jumping through hoops, and paying more, via a handling agency.

Gooner Fan check it out some nationalities have no restrictions i am do not need to name them, but there has been agreements with the Indian goverment.

Mike

As I posted earlier there's a lot of pay back time here,as far as the UKs concerned.
Alan

How are tourist numbers looking out there at the moment, (north&south) we are due out in a few weeks. I know tourism was well down last Feb/March as we were there, and occupancy at the Marinha Dourada was only at 60% and that info was from the manager (Edwin) Anyone out there if you could just let us know.........thanks Keith,,

Keith (KJF) in reply to your question it is very quiet out here and has been all season, all the hotels and shacks and restaurants are complaining...'no business' and less UK/Eurpoean tourists'..as you look in places at night coming home or going out many are empty... and its no better in the daytime.. (I am talking of the North here)

chilly

I so agree chilly, but how do you make someone like him accountable? The local businesses should all complain, not just tourists, to the government.
His moment of glory, has caused untold stress to visitors to India and the local people themselves. He should be hounded out of office, but again it must come from those who vote for the party in government, to demand action. He is preventing them from earning a decent living from tourism.
So many people now, are saying they are going to holiday elsewhere in future. I will wait and see before I decide.
The end of an era.

As most tourists go for 2-3 weeks once a year, I really don't see much difference being made to the tourist industry as a whole.
No matter how upset HT'ers and members of other forums are by the comments made, the comments haven't exactly made headlines over here and most people will be fairly unaware of the changes and even fewer will be affected.

It would be interesting to know just how many people will actually be affected.

I would guess that the lower numbers this season owe more to the recession in the UK and the fiasco over beach shacks than anything else.

One other point comes to mind, in that by making travel to Goa more difficult,it may tend to keep out the so called Benidorm Bunch
(no disrespect intended to Benidorm or its visitors nor am I comparing long stayers to the above)