‘Too many tourists from North India…’: Podcaster reveals why he skipped Goa for Vietnam on New Year

Podcaster Ravi Handa sparked a heated conversation after he revealed why he abandoned Goa for Vietnam this New Year. In a series of candid remarks, Handa expressed his frustration with the behavior of North Indian tourists, both in Goa and abroad, describing their antics as annoying.

“I went to Vietnam for New Year’s vacation, and Goa was an option,” Handa wrote. “But not for the reasons that any of you on Twitter are going crazy about. Goa has too many tourists from North India, and they spoil the experience.

He did not stop there, as he recounted the events that occurred during his trip to Vietnam which further reinforced his views. “Even in Vietnam, the only bad behavior was by tourists from northern India,” he said. Handa detailed a series of encounters, including a group loudly chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” in a train car full of Indians and another couple rudely crossing the road in keeping with the “Aaji Chalo” excuse. Yahan koi nahi rukija.”

In another incident, he encountered someone queue-jumping at a cable car line, only to be told: “Hum logon ke pass special pass hai.” He added: “I didn’t want to argue and gave up.”

Handa’s comments came in response to a tweet by Deepak Shenoy, founder of CapitalMind, who shared his reasons for skipping Goa in favor of Thailand in the new year. Shenoy wrote: “I went to Thailand for New Year’s holiday and Goa was an option. But not for the reasons that any of you on Twitter are going crazy about. The lifeguards in Goa sound their sirens like crazy when you swim even a few meters in the sea. This is devastating An experience for me and my children.

Handa’s remarks coincide with a broader conversation about Goa’s declining appeal as a tourist destination. Widespread images of empty cafes and deserted streets during peak season have sparked debate about Goa’s struggles with expensive flights, rising hotel prices and what locals call the “taxi mafia”. Many Goans also expressed complaints about unruly tourists, and Handa’s remarks added fuel to the fire.

However, the Goa government has disputed this narrative. On December 31, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant insisted, “The months of November, December and January in Goa will be full of tourists. All the hotels here are full, and I think all the flights to Goa have been booked.”

Tourism Minister Rohan Khunti echoed similar sentiments, accusing influential people of spreading misinformation. “We need to ensure that no wrong message is sent by someone,” he said, defending Goa’s status as a major destination.