In virtual space, netizens plan next holiday to Goa

PANAJI: Goa’s tourism sector may currently be shut due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdown, but the sunshine state’s brand is thriving in the virtual world. Even before flights begin to touchdown in the state, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are already rife with netizens posting pictures of their earlier holidays in Goa and discussing future plans for a “Goa trip”.
Along with tourism, Goa as a destination for holiday homes or second homes has also garnered increased interest.
The most obvious indicators of the demand for a Goa getaway are the thousands of netizens uploading pictures of their memories in Goa and expressing a yearning to visit the state once the lockdown is lifted.
Travel blogger couple Ian and Chris shared a throwback to their holiday on Patnem beach.
“Hoping to return to Goa, India, and pick up our adventures in October, if this crisis is over,” said the pair on social media.
From 6.8 lakh domestic tourists in 1985, to over 70 lakh Indians marking their presence in the state in 2019, the arrival of domestic tourists has provided a more than satisfactory safety net for the tourism industry at a time when foreign tourist arrivals are declining.
In 2018, 9.3 lakh foreign tourists took to the sunny shores of Goa. The 2019-20 season has proven to be a dampener with most stakeholders writing off the season as a loss.
Europe has always been Goa’s main source of international tourists, whether it is the British, Germans, Scandanavians or visitors from Ukraine. Russian tourists also form a major chunk of the chartered tourist arrivals in the state that has attained a cult-like status as a tourist destination since the first hippies arrived in Goa decades ago.
While international flights to Goa remain grounded, the Indian Railways and domestic airlines are all set to restart services in a calibrated manner. With travel restrictions and fear of infection ruling out vacations to international beach destinations in the forseeable future, Goa seems to be the hot favourite among Indians itching to travel after being cooped up at home.
As soon as the ministry of civil aviation announced that flights would resume, a Twitter user going by the name of @sweetspotradar posted, “Are Goa hotels opening? Airbnb villas, flights from Delhi to Goa?”
Similarly, an online travel blogger has listed Goa as one of the top 10 locations in the country to visit after the lockdown.
Sharing a picture of his holiday at Baga, Gujarat resident Nihar K said on Twitter, “Goa’s magic never wanes.”
Secretary of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Jack Sukhija said that Goa’s draw as a tourist getaway may have gotten even stronger post the pandemic.
“Goa’s brand as a tourist destination has not been affected. In fact, I feel that Goa may even get enhanced as a brand. Despite being an international destination, the number of Covid-19 cases that Goa witnessed were very few, and most were from outside,” said Sukhija.
He said that the present situation is an opportunity for Goa to improve its services. “This is a chance to reboot and bring in higher standards. This is a time to rejuvenate the beaches so that when we open up, we can offer better hygiene. One thing that may happen is that the people living in metros, people who are well-off and can work remotely, may look to move to Goa,” said Sukhija.
Real estate firm Naik Navare seems to agree, and has launched an online promotional campaign called ‘Goa Home Buying Fest’ to try and woo customers in other states.