PANJIM: “If casinos are bad, why did we allow them in the State?” Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza asked, while stating that Goa is a tourism destination known for liquor and casinos along with other attractions like electronic dance music (EDM) festivals.
At the same time, D’Souza said that issues like drugs and prostitution have brought a bad name to the State, which ranks amongst the top ten international tourism destinations in the world.
“Goa is a place for liquor, sun, sand, and dance. It is also known for casinos, pilgrimage tourism, honeymoon destination, hinterland tourism and known as electronic dance music (EDM) destination,” the Deputy Chief Minister said on Saturday talking to the media on the sidelines of the National Summit on Smart Cities in Era of Digital India organised by Goa government.
Responding to a question on labeling the coastal state as a casino destination, D’Souza said, “Goa is not known just for only one thing. Casino is not just the reason for tourists to visit the State. There are many other added attractions like beaches.”
“Casino industry is helping the State government earn revenue. If it (casinos) were bad why we allowed it at the first place?” he asked.
D’Souza, a senior BJP leader, said there are other things like drugs and prostitution that have brought Goa a bad name and it is not possible to get rid of this overnight. “There are good things and also bad things. We cannot change bad things overnight. It is not possible,” he stated.
Responding to the current controversy related to dual citizenship, D’Souza said that shutting down or shifting of Portuguese consulate will not solve the issue. “You cannot stop anyone from taking another nationality or going for Portuguese passport. If they want to leave the country, let them go. These people are major in age and know what they are doing and what could be its repercussion,” he stated.
