Mumbai terror attacks fail to deter foreign tourists from visiting Goa

by ABDUL RAUF BEIG
Posted on 2008-12-04
PANAJI- Almost ignoring the recent terror attacks in Mumbai a large number of foreign tourists are carrying on with their plans on enjoying their holidays in the state and have no immediate plans to return to their countries, despite their relatives asking them to return to their homeland rather than risking their lives in India.
A large number of tourists in the coastal belt of Goa told 'The Navhind Times' that feeling of safety brings them in large number to Goa. They also said that Goa, which was not as heavily populated as other places of tourist interest in India, was perhaps the safest place to be in the country.
Asked to comment as to why they felt safe in Goa, they said that Goa was less crowded and that they could see some security personnel at almost all strategic places all time of the day, at least since the attacks took place and this made them feel safer.
An Israeli couple, which preferred not to identify, said that they have been in the state for quite sometime and that there were at the fag end of their vacation in Goa. They said that Goa was a safe place for any tourist. They refused to comment on whether their government had issued any advisory to its citizens to leave India and return home. Some other Israelis contacted by this paper preferred not to comment.
Mr Pat Dorothy, a young person from Manchester (United Kingdom) and a first-time visitor to Goa and India, said that he felt absolutely safe to be here. The young Briton further said that he was in Mumbai when the terror attacks took place, which made him worried about his safety.
He further said that he arrived in Goa two days back, ignoring the pleas of his mother to return to his homeland given the situation in Mumbai.
"It is quite a relief to be in Goa," said the young traveler from United Kingdom. A group of Italians also said that Goa was a safer place to be in.
Similar views were expressed by two other young English ladies, Ms Vicky and Ms Rachel, who had come to India to escape horrible winter in their homeland and were caught in the "terrible" situation in Mumbai, when they arrived in the country.
“We were scared and worried about safety while in Mumbai and attempted to hide their identity to escape any possible attack,” said the young ladies who have been coming to Goa and India for a number of years.
They decided to take risk and stay put in India and on arriving in Goa they said that it was worth taking risk as they could enjoy the sunshine here.
A young American, who identified as Mr T J, said that he felt that Goa was a very safe place. He has been in India for last four months and arrived here five days back from Udaipur and would be here for another two days before leaving for Hampi. He said that he was not worried about the terror attacks in Mumbai and went on to add that the United States government has not issued any advisory to its citizens to leave India.
A couple from Austria, Mr Herbert and Ms Bibi both on their first visit to India and Goa, also were in Mumbai around the time terrorists struck. They said that Goa was much safer place to be in and that they really enjoy being here.