TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: With police cases mounting against Russian tourists for taking up illegal employment in Goa and on other issues, the Russian Information Centre (RIC) set up in the State has warned its nationals against getting employed with illegally operating companies or associating with such companies while coming to Goa on tourist visas.
The Centre set up in Goa a month ago with support from Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai and Consulate of the Russian Federation in Goa, issued the single-page instructions for Russian tourists travelling to Goa. The recommendations include health and safety advisories, visa regulations, dress code and common rules of conduct to be followed while in Goa and most importantly to refrain from employment if they do not have business or employment visa.
Ekaterina Belyakova, managing partner of tour operator Tara and RIC initiator, Goa said, “We clearly see that the reason why Russian-speaking tourists face troubles is the lack of information available on many issues and lack of awareness about Indian laws, rules and norms and language barrier.” The RIC will issue instructions to alert and inform tourists’ vigilance and help them to be safe and healthy while in Goa.
The instructions will be available for Russian-speaking tourists in hotels and major tourist spots in Goa in Russian. Emergency contacts of Russian consulates and 24 x7 Russian Information Center Goa hotline are also listed.
In a press statement issued here it was pointed out that the RIC, Goa and Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) will work jointly to make sure that both Russian and Indian tour operators will be sharing these instructions with Russian tourists purchasing Goa packages from Russia and those Russian-speaking tourists who have already arrived in Goa.
During this season alone more than six cases have been reported of Russians engaging in illegal employment as tourist guides, tour conductors, taxi operators etc.
The latest case was reported Monday at Calangute and action is also proposed against illegal tour and travel agencies in this matter by the tourism ministry.
