One of India’s top global tourist hotspots is dying a slow death, prompting netizens to share shocking stories of their own experience visiting the now ill-fated region. The Indian state here in question is Goa, also known as "the pearl of the east”, known for its Gothic churches, age-old ruins, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, and bubbly folk music. But the state is getting attention on Indian internet for all the wrong reasons for quite some time now.

According to data shared by Goa’s tourism department, only 450,000 foreign tourists visited Goa in 2023, a whopping drop from 937,000 annually in 2019 or the pre-Covid era. The report, however, mentioned that domestic tourism in&nbsp;the state was picking up. Over 7 million domestic tourists visited Goa in 2022, almost equalling the pre-Covid figure of 7.08 million in 2018.

Reacting to the shocking figures, several X users highlighted on social media how ‘Goa taxi mafia’ was responsible for the decline of the tourism industry in the state.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj_7JCVlsqJAxVTUGwGHeJbB18QxfQBKAB6BAgaEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fact-check-did-ratan-tatas-pet-dog-goa-die-three-days-after-his-death-767791" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fact-check-did-ratan-tatas-pet-dog-goa-die-three-days-after-his-death-767791&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_7JCVlsqJAxVTUGwGHeJbB18QxfQBKAB6BAgaEAE">Fact check: Did Ratan Tata`s pet dog `Goa` die three days after his death?</a>

“Goa is doomed all thanks to the alliance of local taxi mafia and administration,” wrote one X user.

It must be noted that ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola are banned in the state in the face of vehement opposition from local taxi unions. Ola, India’s own version of Uber, was launched in 2014, but was banned in Goa following massive strikes by the local taxi unions.

Another X user recounted his experience when ‘more than 10 taxi drivers ganged up against him’. “Goa’s taxi mafia is responsible for it,” he wrote, claiming that a German woman was forced to pay ₹1,800 ($21) to a taxi driver for a 37 km ride.

Also read:<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj_7JCVlsqJAxVTUGwGHeJbB18QxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-planning-a-trip-to-goa-why-sindhudurg-is-a-better-option-instead-767788" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-planning-a-trip-to-goa-why-sindhudurg-is-a-better-option-instead-767788&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj_7JCVlsqJAxVTUGwGHeJbB18QxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">Planning a trip to Goa? Why Sindhudurg is a better option instead</a>

“I went to pick up a friend (from Germany) from Benaulim Beach and I was accompanied by another friend (a local Goan). A taxi guy (in Benaulim) saw us, he stopped us and in no time there were 10+ taxi drivers ready to beat us up,” he recalled.

“I paid INR 2000 for a flight ticket from Mumbai to Goa in 2018 &amp; paid INR 2500 for a freaking TAXI from Goa Airport to Arambol! Their Taxi Mafia is next level,” a second user said.

Other users on internet revealed how more and more Indian tourists were now preferring visiting Thailand over Goa because of the Southeast Asian nation’s “higher standards of living and better preserved natural environment.”

(With inputs from agencies)

One of India’s top global tourist hotspots is dying a slow death, prompting netizens to share shocking stories of their own experience visiting the now ill-fated region.

One of India’s top global tourist hotspots is dying a slow death, prompting netizens to share shocking stories of their own experience visiting the now ill-fated region. The Indian state here in question is Goa, also known as "the pearl of the east”, known for its Gothic churches, age-old ruins, palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, ferry rides, and bubbly folk music. But the state is getting attention on Indian internet for all the wrong reasons for quite some time now. According to data shared by Goa’s tourism department, only 450,000 foreign tourists visited Goa in 2023, a whopping drop from 937,000 annually in 2019 or the pre-Covid era. The report, however, mentioned that domestic tourism in the state was picking up. Over 7 million domestic tourists visited Goa in 2022, almost equalling the pre-Covid figure of 7.08 million in 2018. Reacting to the shocking figures, several X users highlighted on social media how ‘Goa taxi mafia’ was responsible for the decline of the tourism industry in the state. Also read: Fact check: Did Ratan Tata`s pet dog `Goa` die three days after his death? “Goa is doomed all thanks to the alliance of local taxi mafia and administration,” wrote one X user. It must be noted that ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola are banned in the state in the face of vehement opposition from local taxi unions. Ola, India’s own version of Uber, was launched in 2014, but was banned in Goa following massive strikes by the local taxi unions. Another X user recounted his experience when ‘more than 10 taxi drivers ganged up against him’. “Goa’s taxi mafia is responsible for it,” he wrote, claiming that a German woman was forced to pay ₹1,800 ($21) to a taxi driver for a 37 km ride. Also read:Planning a trip to Goa? Why Sindhudurg is a better option instead “I went to pick up a friend (from Germany) from Benaulim Beach and I was accompanied by another friend (a local Goan). A taxi guy (in Benaulim) saw us, he stopped us and in no time there were 10+ taxi drivers ready to beat us up,” he recalled. “I paid INR 2000 for a flight ticket from Mumbai to Goa in 2018 & paid INR 2500 for a freaking TAXI from Goa Airport to Arambol! Their Taxi Mafia is next level,” a second user said. Other users on internet revealed how more and more Indian tourists were now preferring visiting Thailand over Goa because of the Southeast Asian nation’s “higher standards of living and better preserved natural environment.” (With inputs from agencies)

Internet decries ‘taxi mafia’ as Goa’s foreign tourism sees massive decline

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