An enormous hike in public transport fares during peak tourism is likely to be damaging travel to Goa, an official body has stated.

Gaurish Dhond, president of TTAG (Travel and Tourism Association of Goa)has urged Goa’s tourism department to impose tighter restrictions on inter-state bus prices which have been known to regularly increase by over 3,000 Rupees per journey. A bus fare in the height of the tourism period can regularly total as much as 4,000 Rupees, or around $90 USD, while during quieter times during the year the average fair is approximately only 500 Rupees (or $11 USD).

The instantaneous price rises apply predominantly to overnight journeys travelling between Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune. Dhond has argued that these fare hikes give a poor outward impression to potential tourists and puts off travel to the Goa region, and has claimed that travel industry officials will put the case to government.

Dhond has also pointed out that the flow of travelers was less than usual towards the end of 2010 and another unfair price rise was probably a factor – this time in the form of airfares: “[they] touched an all time high of Rs 30,000 per ticket single way from Delhi as against the normal air ticket of Rs 6,000.”

Dhond went on to say, “When Malaysia and Sri Lanka were offering three-night packages for as low as Rs 15,000 including flight ticket, who would spend so much to visit Goa?”

The call for greater regulation on interstate travel comes after Goa has enjoyed its busiest tourism week, which is often between Christmas and the New Year. While this week is usually its peak for travel (with 75,000 arriving in Goa on New Year’s eve this year), the season typically runs from March through to October and just under 2.5 million people visit the region each year.

Reported by Zeke Lyons.

Back to the Tripbase News Homepage