Team Goemkarponn
CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Wednesday said that the reason Goa appears less crowded despite high official tourism numbers is the rapid and largely unregulated spread of new accommodation options across the State.
Lobo explained that while tourist arrivals — domestic and foreign — have gone up, thousands of additional rooms have quietly entered the market in the form of homestays, rental apartments, small guest houses and Airbnb listings. This, he said, has redistributed visitors who once heavily concentrated in a few beach belts.
He noted that many coastal households now rent out rooms or entire homes to travellers, further diluting footfall in traditional hotspots and creating the impression of lower tourist presence.
The MLA also stressed that improving civic discipline among both locals and domestic visitors is essential if Goa wants to attract more discerning, responsible tourists and maintain its reputation as a premium destination.
