Team Goemkarponn
SALCETE: With the tourism department completing the demarcation of beach shacks, operators along the Salcete coastline have started setting up their seasonal structures. While some are preparing to open, many remain cautious, unsure of how the season will unfold in the face of dwindling foreign tourist arrivals.
Shack owners expressed concern that Goa’s traditional tourism charm is fading without international visitors. They criticised the government’s overseas promotion efforts as ineffective, pointing to high airfares, steep travel insurance costs for aging repeat visitors, and reduced air connectivity — particularly after the withdrawal of flights to Goa.
Operators also warned that foreign tourists are being discouraged not only by connectivity issues but also by unruly behaviour among some domestic visitors. They added that authorities seem indifferent to reviving international tourism.
Other issues flagged include garbage strewn across beaches, rising incidents of stray dog attacks, frequent disputes involving tourist taxis, and the illegal leasing of shacks to third parties.
According to shack owners, domestic visitors tend to frequent shacks only on weekends, unlike foreigners who provided steady business throughout the week. They also noted a growing trend of groups playing loud music and dancing on beaches, often disrupting the atmosphere.
With foreign arrivals falling and domestic crowds proving unpredictable, shack operators fear the season ahead may lack the cosmopolitan vibrancy that once defined Goa’s beach culture.
