Goa, May 10 -- KARSTEN MIRANDA

karsten@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: The already dismal tourism scene in Goa - marked by empty hotels and restaurants for much of the recent tourist season - has now taken a complete nosedive. Over the past month, murmurs of the tourism downturn have grabbed headlines, with ministers and MLAs of the ruling BJP speaking openly about the tourism sector taking a big hit.

Stakeholders have pointed at multiple factors - from unusually high hotel rates to taxi unions that refuse to cooperate with visitors. Now the tense situation between India and Pakistan seems to have added to this, with numerous cancellations of hotel bookings and events.

"Goa hotels are further affected by the current escalated Indo-Pak conflict...