SAFE TOURIST DESTINATIONS FOR WOMEN

HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY!

We are inundated with news of how the world is becoming an unsafe place for women. But that shouldn't stop you from exploring the unseen and unknown. We list out safe places (as per our personal experience) to travel in India:

HAMPI

It’s a temple town rich with ruins and attracts a lot of international tourists – mostly backpackers, hippies and young travellers due to the archaeological significance of the place. The locals are aware that tourism constitutes a main part of their income and make sure that they preserve it.

Nivalink's Experience

When a team member visited the place, she found it extremely safe. ‘I was travelling alone and never once was uncomfortable. People are friendly and offer you honest advice.’ 

SOUTH GOA

While there have been reports of incidents, Goa still remains one of the most liberal states in the country. If you head south, you will find that the pace and people are still very laid-back. People like giving you your space and most of them aren't judgmental about what you wear or drink!

Nivalink's Experience

A team member recollects, ‘I was in Colva recently and it was a brilliant. I have heard stories about how people would stare at you if you wear swimsuit but nothing of that sort happened. I was oblivious of what I was wearing and could enjoy the beach without any hang-ups.’

RAJASTHAN

The desert state is pretty liberal and safe for women travellers. People are warm, ready to help you and at times go out of their way to ensure you have a good trip.

Nivalink's Experience

Our team member shares her experience with us, ‘I had been to Rajasthan with a few of my girlfriends and none of us felt insecure. We went for shopping, desert safari, paragliding and sight-seeing all by ourselves. What was nice that there were sign boards that announced to beware of pickpockets, we knew that we had to be careful.

AHMEDABAD

Voted as one of the safest cities in India for women travellers, one of our team members also vouches for it. 

Nivalink's Experience

She says, ‘I was at Ahmedabad for a day and the place was impressive. I went around and explored the many attractions on my own. I tried out the brilliant vegetarian Gujarati thali and shopped for textiles and handicrafts. There is no nightlife as such because alcohol is prohibited in the state. May be that’s one of the reasons why people are calm and helpful.’

SIKKIM 

It’s one of the least populated states in the country but the number of solo female travellers is a sign that the place is women-friendly. 

Nivalink's Experience

A team member recollects her trip to Sikkim, ‘Apart from being gorgeous, the people are also very nice. The weather is cool year around and so are the people. I visited the sights, attractions and various restaurants on my own and was very comfortable. I also chanced upon a lot of fellow female travellers and they had positive tales to share. Sikkim is definitely a must visit.’ 

HAVELOCK ISLAND

For ladies who seek solitude and safety, Havelock Island is as remote and as secure as it can get.

Nivalink's Experience

One of our team members says, ‘There aren’t any other commercial activities here besides few resorts and dive centres. But no one will disturb or threaten your space while you are here. I enjoyed scuba diving, savouring some seafood and just relaxing. The locals are warm and will help you in case you are lost. But medical and emergency facilities are basic and you have to go to Port Blair even for a medical check-up. 

However, there are few tips that you shouldn't ignore 

• Dress modestly, research about the place you are visiting
• Keep important phone numbers handy (helpline number and police number of the place you're visiting) and your GPS working. 
• Make sure your mobile phone battery is charged well and save some contacts under SOS (save our souls) option on your mobile, in case of an emergency. 
•  Inform your near and dear ones about your whereabouts. 
• Learn few words in the local language before your travel like please help me etc.
• Don't hesitate in talking to strangers and getting familiar with your surroundings, but never let your guards completely down.
• A pepper spray or small pack of red chili powder can definitely find space in your baggage as your security makeup.
• Carry adequate cash and do keep help line numbers of your debit/credit cards in place.
• Trust yourself and rise above fear! 

To book a holiday to these destinations, Contact Us!  

What ails Goa?

Goa, one of the world's best known beach towns is recommended as India’s must-go tourist destination. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 Goa boomed. And so did the hotel rates in Goa! The hotel rates were hiked to be in sync with global standards that the international tourists were familiar with.

While Goa boomed, the sector’s value as a destination was diminishing. Nobody paid attention to the long-term future of Goa as a premier destination; they were too busy selling out to cheap charters. Hoteliers kept creating bigger resorts and the best hospitality brands made an entry upping the price point.

 Recently, Goa has reported 50% YoY (Year over Year) downturn in tourist arrivals, domestic as well as international.

What’s the reason? Let's visit some factors that Goa has failed and contributed to the downfall in the number of tourists.

• Value Proposition: Hotels became expensive. Other services around also followed the trend and hiked their prices without keeping pace with reality and value proposition. The restaurants, transport to even a roadside barber shop (around a tourist-filled area) turned too expensive and devoid of any real value. For example, I was forced to take a bad Maruti Omni from a local union managed car hire service in South Goa at 50% higher tariff than what I would pay in a state like Kerala. The driver was inebriated and did a very bad job of anything he was told to do. 

• Variety: Goa has beach and resorts. Goa has always been a big party. Eco-tourism, temples, village tourism, birding, adventure activities and other aspects were never highlighted well.

• Cheap Tourism: Goa became the hub for cheap group tourism thereby shooing away the classy up-market tourists. Initially, cheap flight costs provided cheap tourists; as the rates of domestic low cost carriers escalated, the inflow of tourists looking for a cheap deal dried up.

• Excessive development: Hotels, hotels and more hotels. North Goa lost its greenery to tourism in the last decade. The local development authorities lost track of what was happening and local developers ran amok. Some of the hotels built on the beaches seem to obviously violate coastal regulation zone rules but nothing has been done about it. At least till now.

• No vision: Goa lacks the tourism vision of Kerala. The government is toppled regularly, and the lack of any coherent long-term policy on tourism and development is making everything too piecemeal.

• Security and Illegal activities: Beaches and hamlets in Goa became famous as hotspots for illegal tourism. And there were a couple of incidents which questioned the basic security of the tourists in Goa. The ill feeling resulted in first time tourists and umpteenth time repeat visitors both gave it a miss.

Answers are not easy. The biggest problem Goa will encounter is that of overcapacity. Charter arrivals frequency may get restored in a couple of years solving occupancy problem from November to March. However, April to October will still remain a concern. Hotel operators along with the local government have to create a compelling value proposition for Goa to be again called a 365-day holiday destination.

 

For more details, visit - www.nivalink.com