Holidays in Goa do tend to end with big smiles

It is 8.30 in the morning and except for three tourism policemen strutting on the beach, there were a few others, mostly local and foreign tourists, bathing in the water of the South Goa shores.

However, the decline in numbers on the beach has not left local stakeholders worried as it is the time of the year to start packing for the monsoon and relax after months of ceaseless work.

“The English have gone and I do not expect any customer for breakfast at this time of the year. It has been a very good and we expect the next one to be better,” says Peter, as he sips coffee in his restaurant.

“In a few days, we are going to start seeing locals from different villages come to spend some days on the beach. The change in school holidays has upset many plans,” he says.

Locals normally spend their summer holidays at the beach with families occupying one or two rooms. “The elderly stay back these days whilst the youngsters or ride back home,” affirms Peter.

With most foreigners heading home, shacks run by locals have slowly begun to close or are in the process of doing so with some staff asked to go on holiday and just a few managing the shack.

LIFE'S A BEACH: Locals join tourists to beat the summer heat.

If stakeholders in the South are preparing to shut down for the season, many in the North have already started shutting shop and staff has begun to leave for their much-deserved holidays.

As summer begins to hit, foreign tourists who are back home still cannot keep the spice of the times they had here out of their mind with Gurneet writing: “Isn’t it something. One moment you’re in Goa’s sunsets, beach breezes, and easy smiles …and the next, you’re back home, where the scenery—the vibe—feels so different. How have you been feeling after returning from Goa?”

If stakeholders in the South are preparing to shut down for the season, many in the North have already started shutting shop and staff has begun to leave for their much-deserved holidays.

Most who are back in their countries, are waiting to return to Goa whilst a few have actually come back and are enjoying the sense of belonging that Goa offers them.

Paul Sturman says: “I arrived back early March after a seven week stay. Hated it so much that four weeks later, I booked flights to return. I have now been back for nearly a week. My first visit was in 1998. Goa has always felt like the place I belong.”

Paul Sturman, tourist I arrived back home early March after a seven week stay. Hated it so much that four weeks later, I booked flights to return. I have now been back for nearly a week.

Debbie misses Goa as soon as she steps onto the plane in Dabolim. “I can’t wait for the next visit,” she writes. “Goa is my heaven ….I’m so relaxed and at ease …love the place, people, food, my slice of heaven.”

The 2024-2025 season has been memorable for many and not what it should have been for a handful and those expecting more smiles were unexpectedly stung by the attitude of certain taxi drivers.

The first-time charter tourists went back happy leaving travel agents expecting more bookings next season and those who were serviced by Air India—and the bulk of British tourists used the airline—were happy with what was offered.

One message doing the round on web portals is: “For Information of all who travelled to Goa by Air India on April 2 which was cancelled and everyone sent to hotel at Heathrow overnight to then fly the following day. We have just received £1050 compensation in our bank account.”

Holidays in Goa, tend to end with big smiles.