“Goa Taxi Mafia Will Destroy Tourism,” Netizens Say As German Tourist Faces Taxi Scam In Goa

Goa is once again in the news. And this time for all the wrong reasons. Many local taxi and rickshaw drivers continue to oppose online cab booking platforms. Reason: they fear losing out on business. Since online cabs are much cheaper, the issue keeps making headlines. Recently, a German tourist shared a video of his experience, where he tried to avoid the so-called ‘taxi scam’ in Goa, but what happened next will leave you angry. 

German Tourist Tries To Avoid ‘Goa Taxi Scam’ 

 

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A post shared by Alexander Welder (@alexweldertravels)

A video posted on Instagram by a tourist from Germany, Alexander Welder (@alexweldertravels), is now going viral. Sharing the clip on Instagram, he said he had no idea what was happening in Goa. Apparently, he asked a rickshaw driver for a ride, but the driver demanded ₹500. Finding it too high, Alexander decided to book a cab through GoaMiles, a local taxi app,  for ₹300 instead.

However, this angered the rickshaw driver, who started following him and his partner, filming them and harassing them for choosing an online cab. Alexander said the driver told him that using GoaMiles was “not allowed” in Goa. Later in the clip, the couple’s cab was stopped by police, who fined the driver ₹500. Although Alexander paid the fine, he mentioned he still couldn’t understand the reason behind it. Ending the video, he said, “Maybe someone can help me understand what was going on. It obviously does not make any sense.”

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Netizens React To The Incident 

The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between local taxi drivers and online cab services. It is a well-known fact that local taxi drivers sometimes charge too much even for short rides. While online taxi booking platforms offer fair rates. This is why many tourists are now using these online platforms, which has not gone down well with local taxi and rickshaw drivers. 

Naturally, netizens were furious after watching the video. One user commented, “Goa taxi mafia will destroy the entire tourism industry there… one day at a time.” Another wrote, “It’s a huge issue in Goa… They are destroying tourism in Goa… If they go by the government rates, they would get many more rides and profit also.” Some users even asked Alex the reason behind the fine writing, “But why did you pay his fine? You obviously didn’t break any traffic rules.”

Also Read: Bharat Taxi: India’s 1st Cooperative Cab Service To Make Its Way To Delhi Roads In Nov; All You Need To Know

Have you ever faced a similar situation while visiting Goa? Do share your experience in the comments below.

Cover Image Courtesy: @alexweldertravels/ Instagram and alexwandersyt