Goa authorities reply to viral post calling the beach destination a ‘tourist trap’

Goa's charm as a tourist destination has repeatedly drawn both local and foreign tourists to the spot. However, Aditya Trivedi, a recent tourist who checked out the destination, is not one of them. His recent trip to Goa was dotted with some unpleasant experiences, and he didn't think twice before going on social media and urging people to boycott Goa. He fearlessly shared his opinion and even offered suggestions on his X account to improve things. Aditya observed that Goa wasn’t on par with other beach destinations in Southeast Asia. He also called the Mumbai – Goa highway a 'pure torture'.

'Why would anyone visit Goa?'
“Indians should just boycott Goa”, Aditya wrote on his X account. Comparing Goa with other popular tourist spots like Phuket, Bali, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, Aditya says there is nothing unique about Goa. “Hotels and cabs are just focused on looting the tourists. The clubs are junk, charging exorbitant fees compared to Ibiza, which is a joke. The beaches are dirty and stuffed with tourists. I don’t see why anyone would still visit Goa,” Aditya noted.

Aditya’s post soon caught everyone’s attention, triggering a heated debate on social media. Netizens have been replying to Aditya’s viral post, sharing their experiences in Goa. “North Indians should just go to Phuket and Bali as they are rich. I have been visiting Goa for the last thirty years, so I know how Goa became like this,” wrote one X user. Meanwhile, another user wrote that he doesn’t like Goa but not for the reasons that Aditya mentioned. He doesn’t prefer visiting Goa anymore as he finds the beach destination boring.

Another social media user suggested Vietnam and Thailand as better alternatives for Goa. Meanwhile, one of the users wondered whether Aditya was urging Indians to give up a part of India. He even mentioned that most people are likely to disagree with his opinion. Interestingly, most users who replied to the post complained about the hefty fee charged by hotels and cabs in Goa. An X user noted that he would never visit Goa after one of his friends had a really bad experience. He suggests that the northeastern states and countries like Thailand and Vietnam are the best options as they are worth the money.

Tourism department responds
The tourism department of Goa has replied to Aditya’s post to boycott Goa. The authorities said that “comparing a state in India to another country may yield inaccurate perspective”. The statement issued by the Goa tourism department read, “Goa, like any other tourist destination, is governed by market forces. At times, the air and hotel components make Goa expensive, leaving potential tourists seeking alternate options. However, Goa has and will continue to rise to challenges to solidify its position as a top holiday destination for a diverse range of travellers.” It also clarified that many international hotel brands have already registered in Goa.