Goa’s tourism appeal booms as prices drop, activities increase during monsoon

It is raining heavily, and for days now there has been no sign of sunshine. And yet, you can see tourists on the streets of Goa. You can spot them trying to capture memories or making reels at Fontainhas, Panaji’s Latin Quarter.
Similar scenes also play out at Goa’s popular beaches. While swimming in the sea is banned during the rains, it is no deterrent for tourists. Beaches still get crowded on weekends, albeit not as much as in the non-monsoon months.

The scope for outdoor activities shrinks during the rains, but despite this, Goa’s allure as a monsoon tourism destination has increased. Many choose to holiday in Goa during the monsoon, as the destination is “costly and crowded” during other times of the year.
“Hotel rates are down, and the place is also less crowded,” said Nishanth and Hariprasad, IT professionals from Bengaluru who holidayed in Goa last week.
Until a few years ago, hotel bookings would drop below the 50% mark with the arrival of the monsoon as visitors would be left confined to their rooms. Most hotels would then partially close, and the break would be used to carry out repair and renovation work, but no more.
Hotels record over 50% occupancy during the monsoon.
“People love the Goa monsoon vibe. They want to enjoy the rains, the lushness, the rivers, and the waterfalls,” said Guitry Velho, vice-president of Heritage Village Resort and Spa Goa.
However, certain segments of the corporate world, Velho said, even in the past, would choose to hold their events in Goa during the rains, with hotel tariffs reducing by about 20%.
“With corporate events and other segments of travellers such as families and free independent travellers (FITs), we see an average occupancy of 60% to 70% in the monsoon though it may dip on wet days,” said Velho.
Between June and September, hotels record an average occupancy of 50% to 60%, and some even more, said Nilesh Shah, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG).
While there may not be an array of things to do in Goa during the rains, hiking and trekking offer tourists a chance to see the state’s hinterlands and water bodies.
Besides the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) Sunday monsoon treks, several private entities conduct treks covering various parts of Goa and record a healthy attendance of both tourists and locals.
“We have people joining our trek from other states as well,” said Anil Dalal, manager, GTDC.
The Goa wing of the Youth Hostel Association of India, which has been running a monsoon trekking expedition since 2013, had to throw open an eighth batch this year, with the response being huge.
“Like last year, we planned to have only five batches of 100 participants each, but with applications still pouring in, the registration for the eighth batch is under way,” said Manoj Joshi, who heads the Goa branch.
The response, he said, has been overwhelming despite no publicity. All their participants are from outside Goa, he added.
“Goa is more beautiful during the monsoon than winter,” said Joshi.
Those seeking a little adventure can go whitewater rafting in the Mhadei. The activity will continue until mid-September.
Since last year, the Konkan Explorers has been conducting kayaking at Morjim and cruise activities in Panaji, both of which they would otherwise have had to discontinue before the rains.
“There are few things to do in Goa in the monsoon, so we decided to offer activities that could be done safely,” said Poonam Ribo, co-founder of Konkan Explorers, an official partner of GTDC.
“The rains brings an element of adventure. There’s a different smell in the air during the monsoon. There’s freshness. We offer people a chance to glimpse a different Goa,” said Ribo.
While it has only been a month since Konkan Explorers has started its activities for the season, bookings for both activities, she said, have been stupendous.
The forgotten tagline ‘kennai paus, kennai voth’ that the tourism department used a decade ago to market Goa as a 356-day destination, has hit its target.
CASTING A SPELL
Most of the adventure and leisure activities Goa offers during the monsoon can be booked on https://goa-tourism.com
* An e-bike tour is ideal for those seeking to discover the local culture, history, and heritage of Goa
* If not in the mood to ride or drive in the rain, one can use a hop-on-hop-off bus for sightseeing and exploring the best of central Goa along the Mandovi river and Old Goa’s historical monuments
* Two-hour kayaking in the Chapora river, open boat tours and cruising experiences are also open during the rains
* Tours of the picturesque Raj Bhavan will open to the public from September 1