Goa gears up for monsoon tourism

With the onset of monsoon, tourists in Goa are eschewing beaches and are looking to shift from water to hinterland activities during the rainy season.
Water sports activities at the beaches are banned during monsoon while swimming is prohibited with red flags posted along the 105-km coast.
The State Tourism Department said it plans to promote monsoon tourism with hinterland activities like eco-trekking and expeditions among others.
"The water sports activity has been banned along the coast due to rains from June 4 onwards. It will be resumed only after the monsoon season," Captain of Ports, which is the licencing authority for water sport activity in Goa, James Braganza told PTI today.

Water sports equipment like banana boats, kayaks, jet ski and para sailing kits are currently kept on the shore, while lifeguards could be seen stopping tourists from venturing into the sea.
Traditional beach shacks, a prime tourist attraction, have also been dismantled after a dull tourist season.

"The shacks were dismantled from May 31 onwards as per the licencing norms of the tourism department. Many shacks had shut before the actual date as the response from tourists was very poor," said Cruz Cardoso, president of Shack Owners Welfare Society.
Goa has 356 traditional shacks that are erected only during the tourist season.

"The last season was very poor. Now, we are waiting for October month when new (tourist) season begins," he said.
Manuel Cardoso, General Secretary, Traditional Shack Owners Association said spending capacity of visitors in the last season was less.
"Even if there were tourists, their spending capacity was less. If we really want to have good upcoming season, the government should allot shacks by August so that they can be erected by September or October," he said.