Panaji:
Goa Tourism Department on Saturday rubbished media reports that Goa government will ban bikinis on the beaches in view of spate of crimes against women in the holiday destination.
"There are no moves to ban bikinis on the beaches. We have just moved to ensure that the government sponsored advertisements does not have women in bikinis on it," state Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco said.
The minister was reacting to the media reports which claimed, quoting a senior tourism ministry official, that bikinis would be banned on the state's beaches.
"How will people bath in the sea without swim wear? There is nothing vulgar in wearing beachwear on the beaches," he said.
Pacheco said that the tourism ministry is concerned over wrong portrayal of Goa's image as a sex tourism destination and that's why the directives were issued to delete bikini clad women from the advertisements.
"This is a family holiday destination. There are lakhs of families, many from neighbouring states, who holiday here," he said.
The minister said that the ban on bikinis cannot be imposed because foreigners come down here to take sunbath on the beaches.
Pacheco, a NCP legislator, had recently expressed his worries over spate of crimes against tourists in the state after two Russian women were reportedly raped during last two months.
The minister had demanded that the Congress high command re-allot the portfolios and move out "inefficient" ministers.
"There are no moves to ban bikinis on the beaches. We have just moved to ensure that the government sponsored advertisements does not have women in bikinis on it," state Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco said.
The minister was reacting to the media reports which claimed, quoting a senior tourism ministry official, that bikinis would be banned on the state's beaches.
"How will people bath in the sea without swim wear? There is nothing vulgar in wearing beachwear on the beaches," he said.
Pacheco said that the tourism ministry is concerned over wrong portrayal of Goa's image as a sex tourism destination and that's why the directives were issued to delete bikini clad women from the advertisements.
"This is a family holiday destination. There are lakhs of families, many from neighbouring states, who holiday here," he said.
The minister said that the ban on bikinis cannot be imposed because foreigners come down here to take sunbath on the beaches.
Pacheco, a NCP legislator, had recently expressed his worries over spate of crimes against tourists in the state after two Russian women were reportedly raped during last two months.
The minister had demanded that the Congress high command re-allot the portfolios and move out "inefficient" ministers.
