German Tourist Alex Welder Says He Feels ‘Safe’ After Goa Police Assure Probe Into Taxi Harassment Complaint

Travel vlogger and German tourist Alex Welder, who had earlier alleged harassment by lo cal taxi operators in Can acona for using an app based taxi service, has now said he feels “safe” af ter Goa Police assured him of an investigation into the incident. Welder, who had shared a video last week claiming that local drivers objected to his use of the GoaM iles app, said in a new Instagram post that po lice officials had reached out to him and informed him that a formal inquiry was being taken up. He expressed gratitude for their response and said he now felt reassured by the prompt action. The tourist had earlier alleged that a rickshaw driver demanded ₹500 for a short ride that the GoaMiles app priced at ₹300. The video sparked fresh discussion over the long-running tension be tween app-based taxis and traditional operators in South Goa, particularly around Palolem and Pat nem beaches. Welder continues to share regular updates from his stay in Goa, alter nating between highlight ing local problems and appreciating the State’s quieter coastal stretches. In one of his recent posts, he complained about un collected garbage at a popular beach parking area, calling for better civic management. In an other, he praised Galgiba ga beach as “probably the cleanest place I have been to in India,” adding that it “feels like a European country” for its peaceful and well-kept surround ings. Police have not dis closed further details of the investigation but are understood to be verify ing the incident based on the information provided by the tourist. Officials had also reached out to a 19-year-old Indian tourist who had recently raised a similar concern, and ear lier this year, police had intervened in the Betalba tim taxi incident in which three cab drivers were ar rested. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte meanwhile said the recurring taxi issue was hurting Goa’s tour ism industry and must be brought under control. Warning that “dadagiri” by certain taxi operators would not be tolerated, the Tourism Minister urged MLAs to move beyond vote-bank politics and take a firm stand in the interest of Goa’s image as a safe and welcoming destination.