Foreign tourists in Goa undeterred by Scarlett's murder

Foreign tourists in Goa undeterred by Scarlett's murderBaga Beach (Goa), Mar 12: Goa remains a favourite destination of foreign tourists despite the mysterious death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling.

"No problem here. We are not insecure. Goa is very safe. People here are very nice," said Andre, a French tourist.

Hotels and travel agents said there have been no frantic cancellations to Goa, visited by 2.5 million tourists annually.

"It's very quiet and safe. I have been here twice," said Kasparas, a Latvian tourist.

"Security-wise, it's very good. Nothing to trouble, everything is good," added his colleague Valdis.

Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamath has said that Keeling's murder would not affect tourism in the State.

"We have 2.5 million tourists visiting the State. When such a large number of tourists come and if one or two incidents take place of such nature, there is no need for the media to blow it out of proportion. I had said in the beginning of the incident that we will go to the root cause of the incident, if there is a false play," he said.

Kamath's comments came even as police in the State announced that another girl's dead body had been discovered in a Panji Hotel on Tuesday.

Kamath said, "I would like to urge tourists to act in a more responsible manner. Goa is not the only destination where these kinds of incidents happen."

He said the State Government will carry on with the investigations till the root cause of the murder is ascertained and the guilty are punished.

For decades, Indian beaches have been a happening destination for tourists not only during the peak Christmas and New Year season, but also all through the year making tourism the mainstay of Goa's economy after mining. (ANI)

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