Living in a State with miles of a beautiful coastline, we have gone from people who took pleasure watching the waves crashing on the seaside, to people who are terrified of the word ‘wave’ itself, slapped on us by Covid-19.
Goa being the sunshine State and a holiday destination, for both, domestic and international tourists, wherein tourism is considered to be the goose that lays the proverbial golden egg, is today reeling under the pandemic.
In 2019-20 the global crisis caused by COVID-19 saw international borders around the world close, airplanes and other forms of transport grounded, tourists forced to return home and people in many parts of the world locked down and confined to their homes.
Though a large number of domestic visitors travelled to the State at the turn of the year, the high-spending international tourists were missing – an absence that hit the hospitality industry very hard.
December went by without the usual flow of crowds. From the beaches in the North to the South, the seaside bore a deserted look. Shacks looked desolate and local businesses struggled to make ends meet.
The lockdown helped locals reacquaint themselves with the reason they fell in love with Goa in the first place. Instead of branding Goa as ‘India’s favourite party destination’, the lockdown was associated with a period of new experiences and discoveries of hidden gems, in the form of lesser known but more picturesque places. Also, several people from other States, given the ‘Work from Home’ option, chose to make Goa their second home, where they could do both, work and relax.
Just as circumstances began to change, what with the announcement of a vaccine and the number of cases going down, the second wave has hit us. This one, more deadly and potent than the first, which seems to spell doom for an industry that was slowly limping back to normalcy.
Besides the cancellation in hotel bookings, the callow attitude of the tourist taxi operators,
with their unreasonable demands, is adding fuel to the fire.
The coastal belt, besides other major tourist places and cities, are witness to a large downfall in the number of tourists. The non- Goa registered vehicles are not as visible as they were a month ago, indicating that drive-in tourists are hesitant to travel.
With Covid having spread its tentacles across the globe, many Goans who were employed abroad and on the ship had to come back due to loss of jobs. A number of them would patronise the smaller and less-touristy restaurants and shacks. Now with the uncertainty of getting a job and with their savings dwindling, this has put a huge dent in the earnings of local joints.
The weddings and events industry too has taken a blow, with limited and restricted people being allowed to attend.
The Department of Tourism needs to do a comprehensive mapping of each level and sector within the industry.
There is a growing consensus that the impact of Covid-19 signals the need for a drastic recalibration of how we live our lives. For Goa’s tourism sector, there is an essential need to refocus resources and capacity to ensure the longevity of the sector in the face of climate change.
To revitalise this industry, Goa can envision a way to change its reputation and potentially rebrand itself. Updating some critical infrastructure in the State, such as transportation systems can be used as a way to create jobs while bringing back tourists. Additionally, a tourism strategy that places sustainability and ethical tourism at the centre will support businesses longevity as well as ensuring the preservation of the Goan ecosystem.
With the ‘limping back to normalcy’ having been rescheduled, Goa will require high calibre planning and deft leadership to steer us through the uncertainty and volatility on this new wave of the pandemic
