Thursday, January 7, 2021
There are no takers for crocodile spotting and other nature-based adventure boat trips and excursions in the absence of foreign charter tourists in Goa, said the tourism stakeholders.
Although most boat and water sports activities have resumed, they are not witnessing any bookings for crocodile or other adventure boat excursions. There is also no demand for backwater trips in houseboats.
“Domestic tourists are not interested in nature or adventure trips. They are not keen on going for crocodile spotting or backwaters boat trips. They are only interested in going for jetski rides, dolphin trips or para-sailing. So the people who operate crocodile or other similar trips are badly affected,” said Rodrigues, a senior boat operator.
Seby D’Souza, another water sports operator at Candolim said, “Most domestic tourists come for two-three days. They just want to go to the beach, party, eat and drink well and go back,” ‘Day trips’ or ‘excursions’ are very popular with foreign tourists. An usual excursion starting at around 8am would combine crocodile spotting with bird watching in the backwaters of the Cumbharjua canal with a lunch stop at a spice plantation on the banks of the canal. The trip would end by 4-5pm. This is a popular excursion with British tourists.
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