Tourism's impact on Goa

GoanCanuck

Agreed. The present taxi rates in Goa are the highest in India. The problem has been compounded by the state government's indiscriminate issuing of taxi permits. In other states it is very difficult to get a taxi permit but in Goa it has reached a ridiculous situation where anybody and everybody can get a permit to ply a taxi.

This past tourist season I was in Goa for several months and one thing I observed was the huge number of tourists(Indian and Foreign) using self drive rental cars. This indicates worse times are ahead for the tourist taxi business in Goa.

Fifteen years ago you would never see tourists using self drive rental cars. They only hired 2 wheelers or used taxis.

machadinha

But wasn't self-drive car hire for foreign tourists pretty much out of the question back then too? I think it's a relatively new development for India.

I.e., I thought you were pretty much stuck to a car & driver deal not so long ago. Again, as a foreign tourist.

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

GoanCanuck

Mach, the self drive cars available in Goa are not through Hertz, Avis or any of the international car rental agencies which have entered India since the 90's but through private individuals who are not authorized or registered to do so. These same individuals used to offer jeeps/cars for hire even before but there were not many takers.

Indic

Well may be its not such a bad thing, more competition may have a salutary effect on the taxis and they may get more professional - incliding the use of the meter - and if it also brings the rates down (to quote you 'rates in Goa are highest in India') it might bring in more business. If the rates are reasonable you might see local population also using taxis more regularly and a virtuous circle may after all set in where everyone is a winner.

machadinha

Hm yes I see.

Didn't mean to really interfere btw, it's just one of those questions that floats up sometimes.

There's been some good discussion on this thread and I liked its premise (basically just asking for academic or journalistic or similar sources I believe), just a shame it had to peter out into some predictable minute details.

I come from a place thoroughly ruined by tourism, yet thriving on it, most locals there would swear by it (well, they have little other option, and mostly swallow it whole indeed, like again I suppose most of us are easily led to believe mainstream culture is the one way to go), which doesn't mean it can't be criticized from a wider perspective.

Goa has never attracted me for many obvious reasons (related to tourism, needless to say, including its "alternative" <cough> backpacker segment), however I'm tempted to prove myself wrong and find out there still is more to the place, as in fact I'd like to trust there still is. Rest assured I'll know a few people here to call when the time comes.

GoanCanuck

The problem is that in Goa more taxis does not mean more competition and hence lower rates. It basically means higher rates because none of the taxis can get enough business.

jcbrum

Got to agree with the above.Speaking to a couple of Taxi drivers last week,they said they are thinking of increasing their fares by almost 20% this coming tourist season.However hard you argue with them they do not understand why people will not use them,as they think all tourists (Indian and Foreign)will pay whatever.

John

kalbarri

why only the adverse? a balanced view would be far more interestng and accurate. don't knock the good old days, fred, they were definitely there even if one wasn't stoned! (personal experience)

GoanCanuck

The main reason for this type of irrational attitude on the part of the cabbies is because for the last 10 years or so there has been a net increase in the total amount of tourists visiting Goa year over year.

This coming tourist season is to say the least going to be challenging with a projected drop in arrivals between 10%-20% and the cabbies won't know what has hit them when they find their pay cheques dwindling and costs rising with petrol prices set to increase further.

federica

Maybe at least a chapter about positive examples of tourism (not backpacker tourism or so called yoga centres).

fredericknoronha

My sympathy goes out to the Goan taxi driver. He's working in a situation where the odds are against him (no return fares, the geography of Goa is too scattered, tourism for eight months or less in a year, and the field is vastly overcrowded thanks to the overoptimistic hype that was peddled by those in position of power and their foreign backers).

He barks up the wrong tree (blaming the 'outsider' taxi driver, in a situation where 'outside' can be just a few kilometres away) and thinks that the politician who offers him so much of verbal support is actually on his side.

At the end of the day, despite overcharging his client badly, he only ends up earning far less than taxi drivers in many other big cities (of course, Goa is not a big city). Not just that, he also earns a bad reputation, and also frightens anyone who would use a cab in, say, Mumbai, from ever stepping into a taxi into Goa (unless it's a sheer emergency).

Incidentally, Goa's airport is one of the few unconnected via an affordable bus service to the main towns ... for a place which prides itself on being a tourist destination, this is criminal. FN

__________________
--
FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1 pm)
http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
http://www.goa-india.org http://feeds.goa-india.org/index.php
f r e d e r i c k n o r o n h a @ g m a i l . c o m

Indic

I have often seen that what we find irrational economic attitude is actually not irrational, we find it irrational because we are reading it wrong. It seems irrational that as the supply of taxis increases the rates also go up.. I think what we need in to bring in here is the segmented market concept. I have often seen that the taxis typically ply in limited areas, they are unionized and often pressurise the hotels/resorts to use their services, since this brings down competition they can earn more even through limited trips. And surprise surprise Goa government actually helps in promoting an exclusive market for the taxis = the lack of bus service from the airport is one example that FN has given. I can easily add a few more - lack of proper bus service from the main gate of the Margao railway station to the Margao inter city bus terminus is another, lack of buses after 7 pm from major beaches is another. Till now all this has worked but if the tourist begin to dwindle, things could change drastically…

fredericknoronha

People in Goa have mostly owned their "own houses" even during colonial (pre-1961) times, even if modest ones. As far as mobile phones and TVs go, a lot of non-taxi drivers also own those here. Incidentally, mobile phones are rather inexpensive in India currently, and a lot of fish-vendors also own them. I don't see what's the particular connection with tourism....

The great Goan dilemma: "everyone" wants to be a taxi driver, but they find it tough to earn decently. It's obvious from the few trips each is making a day, and the manner in which they overcharge -- driving business away!

fredericknoronha

The Goa government has a short-sighted vision... taking "care" of their constituents (i.e. giving in to their short-term demands). It is made up of politicians who have to win elections.

So, they go along with demands for exclusive zones for taxis, which are unhelpful in the long run to all.

The largely privately-run bus lobby has been a powerful force in Goa since the 1960s. Unfortunately, the state-run Kadamba only bleeds the exchequer.

GoanCanuck

Very true. I would say Goa has probably highest home ownership rate in India.