Goa tourism in damage control mode

Following a series of crimes against foreigners and Goa tourism taking a hit, the tourism department plans to spend Rs 7 crore on a special security force

Goa tourism in damage control mode

Following a series of crimes against foreigners and Goa tourism taking a hit, the tourism department plans to spend Rs 7 crore on a special security force

The Goa tourism department is in serious damage control mode. In a bid to salvage tourism following crimes directed at foreigners, the state government has come up with plans to deploy a special tourist security force and improve tourist infrastructure.

Scarlett Keeling

Statistical data reveals that of the 126 foreign nationals who died in Goa in the last two years, nearly 40 were British nationals. This fact was confirmed by a high-ranking state police officer.

Swapnil Naik, director, Goa Tourism, who confirmed the figures, claimed that the majority had died a 'natural' death, unlike sensitive cases like the recent sexual assault cases on Russians, and the 2008 Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case. According to Naik, in all three cases, the accused have been arrested and the matter has been placed before fast track courts.

Goa gets approximately five lakh foreign tourists a year. But figures dipped post the Keeling case in 2008, when the number fell by over three lakh.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 20,737 rape cases were reported across India in 2007. Goa reported 20 cases (the police say the figure is much higheru00a0-- North Goa alone saw 27 reported rape cases in 2009; of these, only three victims over the last three years were foreigners).

Naik is confident that the new measures will work. Since December 2010, the tourism security guard has been in operation, where 40 policemen have been posted as tourist wardens and officers at tourist destinations including beaches, places of worship and shacks, round the clock. The government plans to spend around Rs 7 crore on this force, which has a capacity of 500, and will be at full strength by March. These guards have also been given 15 jeeps and siren motorcycles for patrolling.

A team from the tourism department also visited England, Ireland, Russia, Malaysia and Singapore to promote Goa by taking part in international tourism events and organising road shows. The annual budget for tourism promotion set aside by the government is Rs 12 crore, said a senior IAS officer from Goa.

And with good reason. Naik explains, "Nearly 1/3rd of Goa's population is directly or indirectly connected to tourism. The industry provides 17 per cent towards the state GDP and lakhs of people are getting employment through tourism."

The central government has also announced plans to provide Rs 200 crore to improve tourist infrastructure, which includes setting up a golf club, a marina and convention centre for tourists through public private partnership, and promoting the backwaters.

"We are hoping the state government provides concessions in road and entertainment tax to help us organise more shows and events. Till date, around 500 charter flights with foreign tourists arrive in Goa annually for various seminars and events," says Naik.

Foreign nationals found dead in Goa
>Scarlett Keeling (15), North Devon, UK, was found dead on Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008. Autopsy confirmed rape and an overdose of drugs.

> Bayet Florence (29), France was found dead in a trailer parked near Vagator beach on December 22, 2008.

>Michael Harvey (34), Britain was found dead in a beach hut near Ashwem beach on March 1, 2008.