Goa's tourist dip: Is idli-sambar the culprit? BJP MLA Michael Lobo thinks so

BJP MLA Michael Lobo stirred up a curious theory on Thursday, claiming that the sale of idli-sambar at beach shacks in Goa is to blame for the "decline" in international tourist arrivals.

Speaking at a press conference in Calangute, Lobo suggested that while the government isn’t entirely to blame, everyone involved in tourism should share the responsibility for the dip in foreign visitors.

The BJP MLA expressed his dismay over Goans renting out their beach shacks to outside businessmen. "Some folks from Bengaluru are serving vada pav in the shacks, and others are selling idli-sambar. That’s why international tourism has been dropping over the past two years," he said, though he didn’t really explain how the beloved South Indian breakfast dish was causing the issue.


The legislator mentioned the "hue and cry" over falling tourist numbers, noting a sharp decline in foreign arrivals along both the North and South coasts.

"There are many factors at play here," Lobo acknowledged, calling on everyone involved in tourism to take responsibility.

While some foreigners still visit Goa, Lobo pointed out that younger international tourists are increasingly staying away. "The tourism department and stakeholders need to meet up and figure out why foreign tourists are turning their backs on Goa," he suggested.

Lobo also noted that the ongoing war has caused a drop in Russian and Ukrainian tourists, with visitors from former USSR countries no longer flocking to Goa.

"We need to address crucial issues in tourism, like the ongoing tug-of-war between cab aggregators and local taxi operators," he warned, adding, "If we don’t fix this, we could be staring at dark days for the tourism sector."

(With PTI inputs)