Goa Daily

  A German travel vlogger, Alex Welder, has brought renewed attention to persistent taxi overcharging and intimidation in Goa through a widely shared Instagram video filmed on November 9, 2025, at Patnem Beach in South Goa. While attempting to travel a short distance with his female companion, the pair opted for the government-backed GoaMiles app, which quoted Rs 300 significantly less than the Rs 500 demanded by local rickshaw drivers. What followed was a sequence of harassment, including verbal confrontation, stalking on foot and by vehicle, and an eventual police stop that resulted in a Rs 500 fine on their driver. This incident exposes deep-rooted issues in Goa’s local transport system, where legal app-based services face aggressive resistance, undermining tourist safety and the state’s reputation as a welcoming destination. The Incident: From Booking to Intimidation Alex Welder and his partner, seeking to avoid inflated fares, used the GoaMiles app a legitimate, state-supporte...