THE GOAN | MAPUSA
In recent weeks, Goa has witnessed a steady stream of tourists taking to social media to narrate disturbing experiences – harassment, intimidation, overcharging and other unpleasant episodes.
These videos and posts, often uploaded in moments of distress, have triggered swift police reactions.
What is emerging is a new ecosystem where Instagram, not an official government mechanism, has become the first point of redress for visitors.
Pattern of viral complaints
The most recent case involved tourist Soumya Khanna, who shared a video detailing how she was harassed by men who passed obscene comments, mistook her for a foreign national and even asked “how much.” The post triggered widespread outrage.
The Goa Police Social Media Monitoring Cell reached out to her directly, apologised and requested details to initiate action.
An FIR was subsequently registered, a man from Rajasthan was arrested and others were being tracked down.
North Goa SP Rahul Gupta reiterated that such behaviour would not be tolerated.
“Goa Police take every complaint seriously, especially those involving safety of visitors. When posts come to our notice, we immediately verify them and initiate action,” he said.
Just days earlier, another video circulated showing a group of men on Arambol beach forcibly placing their arms around two foreign women and pushing them into photographs. The women looked visibly uncomfortable, yet the group persisted.
The Tourist Police lodged an FIR and three men from Karnataka were arrested under sections related to wrongful restraint and outraging modesty under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
And in a separate instance, German travel influencer Alexander Welder alleged a “taxi scam” after a rickshaw driver demanded Rs 500 for a ride that GoaMiles had quoted at Rs 300.
He also claimed that attempts to book via the app were blocked from that location. Police reached out to him, assuring that his concerns were being examined and action would follow.
Social media, a new
complaint window
These cases are no longer outliers. They reflect a growing trend in Goa where tourists – and increasingly locals – are turning to their personal social media accounts to highlight grievances.
With no official digital platform dedicated to registering tourist complaints, Instagram and X have become the de facto helplines.
GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins believes this new trend exposes a long-standing policy vacuum.
“A tourist must be seen as a consumer, and every consumer deserves a structured feedback platform. We cannot invite visitors and expect them to fend for themselves,” he said.
Martins pointed out that many traumatising incidents involving foreigners go unreported because there is no accessible system to document them.
He suggested a three-pronged approach: Create an official social media complaint platform for tourists and locals, appoint a nodal officer to route complaints to the departments concerned and publish quarterly reports on complaints received and action taken, to build transparency and trust.
Double-edged reality
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Jack Sukhija acknowledges that social media amplifies the negative experiences but says that this phenomenon is not unique to Goa.
“People taking to social media to share experiences – good or bad – is now part of global travel culture. What matters is how we respond,” he said.
He noted that while the government has provided helpline numbers for grievances, the effectiveness of these systems remains unclear.
New normal, for
better or worse
What is clear is that tourists are increasingly relying on their mobile phones rather than formal complaint channels.
For many, posting a video is faster, more visible and guarantees accountability. For the police, this has resulted in quicker intervention – but also reinforces the need for structured, reliable systems.
A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the shift: “Whether we like it or not, social media is now the first point of complaint. We are adapting to this reality. But ultimately, Goa needs an official mechanism so that grievances don’t have to go viral before they are addressed.”
Until such systems are created, Goa’s reputation – good or bad – will continue to be shaped by the posts of its visitors.
For now, the police appear willing to step into this new digital form of policing, even as policymakers lag behind.
