MERCES: A day after a Russian tourist was accused of illegally conducting tour operations in Calangute, Old Goa police detained a Russian national for illegally guiding tourists at Old Goa and handed her over to the tourism department.
The Old Goa police informed that they had received complaint from local guide and Goa Guides Association spokesman Anand Sawant, stating that a Russian woman was illegally conducting guiding activities inside the heritage monuments of Old Goa. The police further informed that they caught the Russian woman and produced her before the tourism department, who released her after imposing a fine.
“The Russian woman works for an Indian travel agency, which has a branch in Goa, and often goes to Old Goa to illegally guide tourists. The ASI monuments come under the Tourism Ministry, and only regional guides are permitted to do guiding here,” Sawant told Herald.
“Foreign nationals have no right to do guiding in these places. We frequently requested the agency to hire our services for guiding, but it did not pay heed to our request and we decided to report the matter to the police.”
“However, the Old Goa police first stated that the issue is the lookout of the tourism department and they do not have any role in the matter. On the other hand, the tourism department demands a police report to take action against unauthorised guides,” he added.
“In such a situation, who are we to approach with our grievances,” asked Sawant. “The tourism department should crackdown on such foreign nationals, who are doing guiding illegally, and affecting the employment opportunities of the local guides.” Sawant demanded that all foreign tourists visiting the heritage monuments in Old Goa should be directed to compulsorily hire the services of the local guides when they visit these places. He demanded that a counter for guides should be set up by the tourism department at Old Goa, so that the tourists can easily hire their services.
