Crumbling ruble, rogue cabbies mar Russian tourists entry into Goa

Panaji: While the continuing conflict in Ukraine and a crumbling ruble have deterred Russians from holidaying in Goa this season, rogue taxi operators may have also hammered at least a couple of nails into Goa Tourism's proverbial coffin, according to a spokesperson for the Russian consular office.

"Last season, many Russian tour buses were stopped by taxi drivers and as a result, many tourists had to wait for hours in police stations for no fault of theirs. They come for a holiday and not to stay in a police station," Vikram Varma told IANS, even as official figures suggest a sharp drop in arrival of Russian tourists, who have emerged as the mainstay of Goa's tourism industry in recent times.

Many of Goa's 7,000-odd tourist taxis and the drivers who man them have often been accused of over-charging, intimidating and operating in an unregulated environment.

Several attempts by the state government to install and implement the fare meters have failed, even as members of the taxi lobby have attacked tour buses for depriving them of business. Fracases between the drivers of taxis and tourist buses sometimes ending up in messy police enquiries are not rare.

Some years back, a flare-up between a Russian travel operator and a local taxi owner resulted in the latter's murder, sparking hostilities between locals and Russian tourists.

"The current lawlessness as far as taxi fares are concerned has to change if Goa is to retain its name as a top and safe tourism destination. We have to work at standardising the fares and insist on functioning cab meters," former president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Manguirish Pai Raikar told IANS.

Raikar's caution is even reflected on Vkontakte Russia's 'Facebook', where gripes about taxi rides in Goa find constant mention.

"For less than 100 rupees ($1.5), they do not even start the car. In the current situation (with the ruble weakening against the dollar) this adds to quite an expense," wrote tourist Miroslava Sherbina on a Vkontakte group called 'Goa', which has over 52,000 members, after a holiday in the beach state.

North Goa Tourist Taxi Association convener Vasudev Arlekar however claimed that hotel owners connive with tour operators and were muscling the taxi-men out of business.

"If tourism does not benefit the sons of the soil, what is the use? Taxi drivers should also get more business if we are to be viable as a profession," Arlekar told IANS.

Goa's tourism season begins in October, a time of the year when a pleasant winter sets in, and winds up by March, just before the advent of the scorching tropical sun. The six-month period coincides with the worst of the winter in Europe and Russia, which is why beach destinations like Egypt and Thailand are ideal beach tourism destinations for Russian and European tourists.

While the exact Russian tourist arrivals are not available for the 2014-15 season (ended March 31), tourism ministry figures suggest a steep drop in charter flight arrivals between this season and the previous one.

In 2013-14, 1,128 charter flights arrived in Goa, mostly from Russia, Britain, Germany and other European countries. The number dropped to 813 in 2014-15.

Goa's flow of international tourists is fuelled by charter flights which are hired by international tour operators, who sell fixed packages and point-to-point holidays.

Varma acknowledged the external factors for the drop in Russian tourists, adding that several actions of the state government, including its inability to rein in the rogue cabbies, were proving counter-productive.

"One is the falling value of the ruble. As a result of this, the Russians have less buying power and so they travel less. Secondly, Russians travel with their own interpreters. Many of these are mistaken for illegal guides and are arrested by the police. If there are fewer guides willing to come, fewer Russians will come," Varma said.

In 2013-14, twenty-seven foreign 'guides', including 22 Russians, were arrested for working illegally in Goa.