There is something about Goa that excites the imagination of outsiders far more than any other state in the country. Beaches, nightlife, food, music, and now airports. Everything becomes content. And in today’s digital economy, content is currency. Which is why social media influencers, vloggers, and self-styled content creators, many of them with little connection to this land, have turned Goa into their favourite punching bag.
The latest case is of Delhi-based vlogger Akshay Vashisht, who was arrested for calling the Manohar International Airport at Mopa “haunted” in a viral video. It was no harmless joke. Authorities point out that such a claim was meant to spread fear and superstition. Worse, it was shared widely enough to create panic among gullible viewers. One can argue that the police should not be wasting their time chasing frivolous vloggers. But when lies are deliberately spread to malign public infrastructure, there is reason to worry.
I have been to Mopa at night, as have countless others. There is nothing remotely “haunted” about it. The lights are bright, the airport runs smoothly, and people come and go without the slightest sign of the paranormal. Yet, a single video, shot with a mischievous eye for drama, goes viral and suddenly Goa is once again in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Why this obsession with Goa? The answer is simple: Goa sells. Say something outrageous about the state, and you are guaranteed views, followers, and attention. Tourists may come and go, but the Goa brand endures. And for those looking to grow their digital clout, it is the easiest shortcut. Criticising Goa’s administration, mocking its roads, exaggerating its problems, or peddling spooky nonsense about its airport brings eyeballs. In the logic of the influencer economy, eyeballs equal revenue.
This is not to suggest that Goa has no problems. The state does face issues with garbage, road safety, infrastructure, and erratic governance. But these are issues that Goans themselves have been grappling with honestly and critically. What is offensive is when outsiders twist these realities into caricatures to suit their own gain. Goa’s image then becomes that of a dysfunctional holiday state where nothing works. That may entertain social media audiences, but it demeans the people who live here and work hard to build their lives.
The courts, meanwhile, compound the problem. Vashisht, like many before him, walked out on bail. One can appreciate the principle that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. But should this freedom extend to spreading deliberate falsehoods that harm the reputation of a state? At what point does content creation cross over into mischief-making and defamation? The legal system needs to draw sharper lines. Otherwise, every crook with a camera will know that the worst that can happen is a few hours in custody before being set free to chase the next controversy.
We have seen this before. A few years ago, certain vloggers peddled alarmist stories about Goa’s tourism “collapse,” painting lurid pictures of empty beaches and decaying hotels. None of it was true in the way it was portrayed. Yes, the tourism industry had its ups and downs, but not the apocalypse they claimed. Yet, those videos clocked millions of views. The damage to Goa’s image lingered far longer than the truth ever did.
The irony is that the very influencers who trash Goa online return time and again because they know that Goa continues to charm. They depend on Goa’s reputation to feed their clicks even as they chip away at it. It is a parasitic relationship. And unless we call it out, it will only grow.
Goa’s government, police, and civil society need to take this issue more seriously. Authorities must crack down firmly on those who deliberately spread falsehoods. But equally, Goans themselves must be wary of amplifying such content. Every time we share a “haunted airport” clip or an “abandoned Goa” story, we become complicit in giving oxygen to lies.
Goa is not perfect. It has flaws, and they must be confronted honestly. But let the criticisms come from a place of responsibility, not opportunism. Influencers may chase their clicks, but Goa cannot be allowed to become their playground for cheap sensationalism. This is our home, not their stage.
