Hi readers To remind everyone, the UK government has a website to offer advice to their nationals before they leave the UK and travel to different parts of the world. One item they advise on is "Safety and Security" and the link for India is: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india/safety-and-security For ease of reference, given below is what it says about Goa. Quote If you’re staying in a hotel on the smaller roads in the Candolim-Calangute belt, take particular care when walking to or from the main road. There have been reports of bag-snatchings on these roads since the beginning of 2012. The thieves are usually on motorbikes, with headlights on full-beam to blind their victims. Throughout Goa there have been reports of drinks being spiked and travellers, including British nationals, subsequently being robbed, sexually assaulted or dying. In 2012, 29 British nationals died in Goa. Some of these deaths were attributed to drug/alcohol abuse. There has been a series of high-profile incidents in Goa of alleged rape against foreign nationals, including Britons. Avoid beaches after dark. There is a risk of being attacked by packs of stray dogs, robbed or sexually assaulted. Female travellers should observe and respect local dress and customs. Unquote At the moment, Goa is an internatonal and domestic tourist destination but if the cases of robbery, sexual assaults and rape continues to rise dramatically, I hope we do not become like Mombasa in Kenya. Mombasa was once an international tourist destination enjoyed by many but those of us living in the UK will recall how not so long ago tour operators (based on British government advice) recalled all their customers at short notice to catch their flights back to the UK. Had they not followed this, their travel insurance would have be invalidated. Insurance companies should also look and recommend destinations specially medical tourism. In Goa, just like Spain and Greece, private doctors behave like car mechanics and before treatment demand to know how they are going to be paid and what insurance or credit card their patient has rather than putting their patient's needs first. The Government of Goa needs to do everything in its power to stem the growing menace of illiterate men and others who roam our beaches like stray dogs disrespecting the dignity of women. If not already done so, they need to bring in enforceable criminal laws to end this problem and make Goa safe again.
The security and safety of all citizens and visitors, both men and women should be given the utmost importance not just by the Government of Goa but by everybody currently living in Goa. Unless this is done, this will not be an open letter to any minister, it will be an open and shut case on tourism and the revenue it generates. The average patriotic visitor coming home to Goa from the UK will need to spend a minimum of GBP 1,000 (near enough one lakh INR) per person for a two week holiday. This includes approximately GBP 390 in UK air taxes, the rest being on air fare, visa, accommodation, food, presents, etc. and the last thing they want after their daily grind to work is to be robbed in their homeland on vacation. Melvyn Fernandes Thornton Heath, Surrey, United Kingdom 6 July 2014
