Goa tourism in decline: Taxi mafia and rising costs driving tourists away

Tourism in Goa, once a vibrant hotspot for both domestic and international visitors, appears to be on the decline, with several factors contributing to this shift. According to a CEIC Data report, foreign tourism in the state has failed to recover to pre-Covid levels. The report highlighted a sharp contrast in visitor numbers, with only 1.5 million foreign tourists in Goa in 2023, compared to 8.5 million in 2019.As per the reports, this popular destination is seeing a decline largely due to the fact that tourists from countries like Russia and the United Kingdom, who were once regular visitors, are increasingly choosing destinations like Sri Lanka over Goa.

In the wake of the report, many social media users shared their own negative experiences, with the so-called ‘Goa taxi mafia’ being a recurring theme. Tourists complained of being harassed and overcharged by taxi drivers, with some recounting experiences where multiple drivers threatened or physically intimidated them for offering rides to foreigners. “Goa is doomed all thanks to the alliance of local taxi mafia and administration,” wrote one user. The local taxi unions have long opposed the entry of ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber, which have been banned after protests by taxi drivers.

Add more on this, an X user recounted and shared his experience in which over ten taxi drivers surrounded him when he attempted to pick up a German tourist from a well-known beach, charging him outrageous prices for a brief journey. Another user remembered a similar situation in which a cabbie threatened to smash his vehicle if he failed to drop off a foreign visitor.

The expenses and hassles of visiting in Goa have forced even Indian tourists to look for other alternative options, with Southeast Asia and other places increasingly becoming more and more popular. Reports further add that destinations, particularly Thailand that has gone ahead to announce visa-free for Indians, along with places with better infrastructure and cheaper travel expenses—like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand—are increasingly turning into favourites. It’s likely that Goa, once thriving as a popular tourist destination, may continue to shrink as competition from other areas continue to increase.