Goa Files Police Complaint Against Social Media User Who Commented On State’s Poor Tourism

The Goa government’s tourism department has filed a police complaint against a social media user who had posted on X about the state of tourism in Goa. The entrepreneur’s comment on X has led to many joining with their own negative experience they had in the state.

The deputy director of tourism Rajesh Kale in his complaint to the Superintendent of Police of the cyber crime police station in Panaji stated that he was “writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding an incident of public mischief that occurred on November 5, at approximately 3:52 pm”.

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He further added that the entrepreneur had disseminated false data through his social media X handles, while causing significant annoyance to local business and inducing fear or alarm within the local community.

“Foreign tourists have abandoned (Goa) already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad,” the post read. Along with the text the social media had also added a chart that suggested foreign tourists to Goa were dwindling.

In the complaint, Kale wrote, “Goa has long been recognised as a prominent tourism destination for both domestic and international visitors. The propagation of such false statements not only jeopardises the reputation of our state but also poses a serious threat to public tranquillity. The Department of Tourism is particularly concerned that these actions may be part of a hidden agenda aimed at undermining Goa’s state image.”

Meanwhile, Rahul Gupta, SP, Cyber Crime, Goa has wrote that they are yet to formally receive the complaint and will look into the concerns mentioned in the complaint and take actions accordingly.

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It is to be noted that the complaint has come just days after the tourism department, grappling with criticism on social media of Goa’s tourism infrastructure.