Ramanuj Mukherjee, an X user whose post on the decline in Goa’s tourism went viral, has written an open letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in response to a police complaint filed against him. In his letter, Mukherjee defended his post, stating that tourists “felt cheated” by their experiences in the state.
Mukherjee highlighted the police complaint, which accused him of spreading false data through social media, causing “significant annoyance to local businesses” and inducing “fear or alarm within the local community.” However, he pointed out that officials in Sawant’s government had already acknowledged a dip in tourist numbers during the 2024 holiday season, suggesting the issue wasn’t new.
In his viral post, Mukherjee drew attention to complaints from tourists, claiming they felt deceived by their trips to Goa. “This issue went viral because it led to an eruption of people’s feelings,” he wrote, noting that visitors shared their frustrations after their expectations weren’t met.
Mukherjee further emphasized the importance of repeat tourists for Goa, stating, “Goa needs repeat tourists. People used to fall in love with Goa and went back there every chance they got. They still will if not mistreated.”
He also argued that the post became viral due to the shared sentiments of tourists rather than the specific data he presented. “Even if the data shared by me was incorrect, you must realise that the data itself did not make the post viral. This issue went viral because it led to an eruption of people’s feelings. Tourists went to Goa and felt cheated. They spoke about their grievances,” Mukherjee wrote on X.
Recalling his personal connection to the state, Mukherjee mentioned his past visits and friendships with locals such as taxi drivers, landlords, and shopkeepers. “This morning, I find myself feeling their sadness and anxiety,” he wrote.
Mukherjee ended his letter by urging the Chief Minister to focus on long-term solutions for tourism, adding, “India deserves no less, Goa deserves no less.”
In his original post on November 5, Mukherjee raised concerns about the sharp decline in foreign tourists to Goa, comparing data from 2019 to 2023. He noted, “Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead.”
Mukherjee shared data showing that while Goa welcomed 8 million domestic tourists in 2019, it also saw 8.5 million foreign visitors. By 2023, domestic numbers remained stable at 8 million, while foreign arrivals had dropped drastically to just 1.5 million.
