PANAJI
The Department of Tourism on Friday issued show cause notices to two guesthouses/resorts following the recent attacks on tourists in Pernem. The owners of the two commercial establishments have been asked “why action should not be taken against them for causing injuries to the tourists at their resort/guest house?”
The notices are returnable within seven days and if they fail to reply, the department has warned to take action accordingly. “If the guesthouse/resort fails to reply within the said period, then it will be presumed that the grounds mentioned in the notice are correct, and on such assumption deemed action will be taken against the hotel/resort,” the notice reads.
The move comes after the North Goa Police wrote to the Tourism Department urging it to cancel the licenses of two premises citing a lack of adherence to safety protocols. The two incidents pertain to attacks on foreign tourists. The first being on the intervening night of March 28-29, when a 29-year-old Dutch tourist was allegedly molested and stabbed by a staffer at the resort. The accused resort employee had also stabbed a local Eurico Dias, who had rushed to the rescue of the woman. The resort employee, Abhishek Verma, a native of Uttarakhand, was soon arrested.
In another incident in the same month, two hotel employees Abinash Goria, 29, a waiter, and Mohammed Khan, 26, an electrician, were arrested for allegedly assaulting a Russian tourist Aigul Davletianova in her hotel room during an alleged robbery attempt.
The Tourism Department, in a media statement, strongly condemned such incidents stating that they prioritize the safety of tourists. The notice, it said, serves as a warning to owners of such establishments to take necessary measures such as official verification of their staff before employing them, police verification, and getting a labour card for non-Goan staffers.
The Department has also advised tourists to book accommodation with hotels/guest houses or accommodation facilities that are registered with it.
