With the tourism season drawing to a close, over 353 government-allocated beach shacks across Goa are set to shut operations by May 31, ending the annual shack season that began in September. The closure, enforced since the 1970s, is a precautionary measure ahead of the monsoon.
Season Performance and Challenges
Shack owners across both South and North Goa described the season as satisfactory but challenging, citing changing tourist behaviour, rising travel costs, erratic weather, and global geopolitical tensions as key factors affecting business.
South Goa Observations
In South Goa, restaurateur and shack owner Edwin Baretto from Cavelossim said business was better than last year until Easter, after which tourist inflow declined. He said rising airfares and ongoing international conflicts affected travel patterns. According to him, British tourists stopped arriving in March, while Russian tourists continued visiting till mid-May. Domestic tourist flow, however, remained steady throughout the season.
Baretto also pointed to uncertainty surrounding Gulf flight routes and expensive alternative travel options, which he said impacted budget travellers. “As long as the conflict involving America, Israel and Iran continues, there will be uncertainty in tourism movement,” he said.
Veteran shack owner Ariston Severes said the season performed better than the previous year. He noted that foreign and domestic tourists were evenly split until March, but business slowed considerably from April onwards.
Changing Tourist Spending Patterns
Private shack owner Raj Naik observed a shift in tourist spending patterns. He said many tourists, both domestic and foreign, increasingly preferred buying liquor from wholesale outlets and consuming it in hotel rooms instead of spending at beach shacks. He said that this trend affected shack revenues to some extent.
North Goa Scene
In North Goa’s Pernem taluka, which includes Morjim, Ashwem, Mandrem, and Arambol, operators reported strong tourist footfalls during the season. However, many shack owners began dismantling their structures before the May 31 deadline due to strong winds and changing weather conditions over the past few days.
Infrastructure Concerns
Operators in the region also raised concerns over inadequate infrastructure on beaches. Narayan Shetgaonkar, a shack operator, said the lack of parking, changing rooms, and clean drinking water caused inconvenience to tourists. “Our repeated requests have not yielded fruit. We make our own arrangements,” he said.
Allegations of Illegal Activities
Shack owners further alleged that while licensed beach shacks were shutting down for the season, some private resorts and restaurants operating year-round had started placing deck beds and tables illegally on beaches. Stakeholders urged the tourism department to take action against such encroachments.
Overall Sentiment and Future Hopes
Despite the challenges, most shack operators expressed satisfaction with the overall season. Many, however, stressed the need for the government and tourism department to frame balanced tourism policies that cater effectively to both domestic and foreign tourists in the coming years.
