Dos & don’ts for foreigners in Goa

SETTING SOME GROUND RULES
Dos & don’ts for foreigners in Goa
Hoardings To Guide Visitors On Safety
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: When in Rome, you can do as the Romans do, but in Goa you better do what the government tells you to. And this is for your safety, the Goa government plans to tell foreign tourists flocking to the state.
If they notice the sale of drugs or any paedophile activity, foreign tourists should inform the police. This is just one in the long list of ‘dos’ prescribed for them that will soon be displayed on hoardings at tourist hotspots. These dos and don’ts will now be displayed prominently at beaches frequented by foreigners in north Goa and outside hotels in the coastal areas. Every police station will have to ensure that the hoardings are displayed in their jurisdiction before August 31. This move follows the Scarlett Keeling episode as well as reports of attacks on Russians.
The dos are simple: foreigners need to register themselves with the Foreigner’s Registration Office if their visa permits a stay of over 180 days, employ guides registered with the tourism department and ensure that the ‘C’ form is filled by the hotels and sent to the nearest police station.
There are six don’ts for foreigners: Don’t indulge in trade/consumption of narcotic drugs or any paedophile activity. Do not move alone in isolated places late at night, do not seek lifts from strangers, do not overstay, do not drive a vehicle without a license and do not indulge in commercial activity if on a tourist visa.

2008 Jul 21, The Times of India, Mumbai