Goa is a tourist destination and has been projected by all stake holders including the Tourism dept as the land of beaches. The climatic conditions are such that tourists who visit Goa are mostly dressed in beach clothing.
It’s high time that the Basilica priest and the archbishop put their foot down and implement some serious measures to follow the dress code at Old Goa. Today we have people who have been educated, but sadly these same people flaunt all rules despite putting up notices at various locations.
It’s the responsibility of the tour operators/ tourism department/ hotels and guides to keep their guests well informed about the dress code at religious places.
In many churches we see that while services are going on tourists walk in, they talk loudly and very casually, while some others are seen posing for a photograph or two in different poses only to be posted later on social websites.
Authorities need to address these basic issues on a strong footing. At the Basilica we need to have one common entrance with counters to deposit cameras and mobiles, besides a counter for a fee. In case a visitor is scantly dress he should be provided with proper clothing attire with a charge.
People visiting temples in other states find similar measures being adopted for all visitors, the only difference is that most of the people are never scantily dressed, as one finds in Goa.
We allow tourist to do anything and everything. They go scot free after their indecent acts and at the same time leave the State for us to clean up the mess they leave behind. It sends a message that Goa is a land free for all types of vices. For the tourists the mantra is “come and enjoy in Goa, the law enforcing agencies are in our pockets”.
