Goa: The sun-kissed beaches and vibrant nightlife of Goa have long attracted tourists from around the world. But a recent surge in online discourse reveals a dark side to this tropical paradise, a ruthless “taxi mafia” that is allegedly driving tourists away.
A viral X post highlighting a dramatic drop in foreign tourist arrivals in Goa sparked a wave of shocking revelations. CEIC Data reports a staggering decrease from 8.5 million foreign visitors in 2019 to just 1.5 million in 2023. While domestic tourism has increased, many believe that the trend won’t last.
Tourism in Goa is down in dumps
Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead.
Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about… pic.twitter.com/RF2TLC2Zvi
— Ramanuj Mukherjee (@law_ninja) November 5, 2024
“Tourism in Goa is down in the dumps. Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead,” wrote X user Ramanuj Mukherjee, who shared the CEIC Data report on the micro-blogging site.
“Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad,” he added in his post which went viral.
The root of the problem, according to numerous online testimonies which emerged after the post went viral, is a notorious “taxi mafia” that preys on tourists. Numerous Indians have shared harrowing tales of intimidation and extortion at the hands of Goa’s cab drivers.
According to another X user, a German tourist was allegedly forced to pay Rs 1,800 for a 37 km ride, while other incidents involved groups of taxi drivers threatening and assaulting individuals who dared to offer rides to foreigners. The exorbitant prices charged by hotels have also added to the woes of tourists.
The taxi mafia’s dominance is further entrenched by the government’s ban on popular ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber, a move that was spurred by protests from local taxi unions. This lack of competition has allowed the taxi mafia to dictate exorbitant prices and operate with impunity.
