Team Herald
PANJIM: A fresh advisory by the USA and UK governments suggesting its citizens take safety measures while traveling to India including Goa has worried tourism stakeholders, particularly at a time when the season is at its peak.
In UK, the advisory titled ‘India Travel Advice’ has stated that women travellers in India are at risk of getting assaulted. It also asked its citizens to respect the local dress codes and customs, as well as to avoid travelling to isolated areas while travelling alone at anytime of the day.
The advisory also cites the incidences of sexual assaults in India in the past. “British women have been the victims of sexual assault in Goa, Delhi and Rajasthan and women travellers often receive unwanted attention in the form of verbal and physical harassment by individuals or group of men. Serious sexual attacks involving foreign nationals have been reported. In April 2018, a Latvian national was sexually assaulted and strangled in Thiruvallam, Kerala. More recently, in December 2018, a British woman was raped in Goa,” the advisory read. The emerging rape cases in India has prompted the two countries issue the advisories.
Specific mention of Goa in the advisory has raised apprehensions among the stakeholders, who vouch that women are much safer in Goa than in other parts of the country. “The advisories by these two nations do create an impact, especially because the other countries might follow the suit. It is creating fear in the minds of the people,” Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Savio Messias told Herald while reacting to the advisories.
As far as rape incidents in India are concerned, Messias said that Goa is a much safer place. However, he added, the advisory will impact arrivals to Goa. “There could be a slight drop in arrivals,” he said.
Herald also spoke to stakeholders in the hospitality sector who echoed Messias’ view. With Britishers constituting second largest arrivals after Russia, the traders including budgeted accommodation operators are apprehensive about the outcome of the peak season.
Proprietor of a popular resort in South Goa said the advisories will mostly impact high-end foreign nationals. “Goa is not just about backpackers. We do get high-end tourists too. This advisory will impact arrivals of all types of tourists. I fear bookings for December to January might end up in cancellation,” he said.
“Our rooms are full during the peak season and most of them are British nationals. Although barely any US citizen goes for affordable accommodations, some of them are exceptions. They stay for minimum three days and move to other parts of Goa where they book another hotel or home stay, etc. I fear this advisory may cut down visitors and at this time when many events are supposed to take place,” the owner of a three star hotel said.
Herald contacted Goa Police but the senior officers declined commenting on the issue citing that it’s the jurisdiction of the ministry of external affairs.
