Russia asks its citizens to reconsider Goa trip

RED FLAG
Russia asks its citizens
to reconsider Goa trip
Naik
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: Concerned about the safety of their citizens holidaying in Goa, the Russian consulate has advised them to “reconsider their trips” to the state.
Sources in the government revealed that in a letter to chief minister Digambar Kamat, the Russian consul general in Mumbai, Alexander Mantytsky, said, “Unfortunately, the times seem to have changed. Concerned over the security in Goa that may endanger the safety and health of Russian tourists and the failure of the Goan police to keep the situation under control, the consulate general has advised them to reconsider their trips to this state.”
Though the letter sent on December 1 came after the Mumbai terror attack, government sources said the letter was also prompted by the taxi strike in Goa which inconvenienced many Russian tourists.
“The Russian consulate was concerned as it received complaints about taxi drivers making anti-Russian slogans, not letting Russian tourists go out of their hotels and stopping coaches,” said sources.
Confirming the receipt of the letter, chief secretary J P Singh said, “The Russian consulate has requested us to act as Russian tourists in Goa had complained to the consulate of harassment by taxi drivers. We have assured them all possible help. The CM had a meeting with tour operators and taxi drivers to arrive at a consensus. Now the tourism director is having further meetings to sort out the problem.” ‘Cancellation of trips due to credit crunch’
Panaji: Concerned for the safety of Russians, the Russian consulate in Mumbai has asked its citizens to reconsider their visit to Goa.
The Russian consulate’s advocate in Goa, Vikram Varma said, “The conduct of some taxi drivers during the strike has cast doubts on the safety of Russian tourists. Tourists in all countries are free to choose their mode of transport.” During the taxi strike in November, it was alleged by tourists and tour operators that taxi drivers had behaved in an uncouth manner with foreign tourists and blocked vehicles and roads.
Tour operators had lodged complaints with the police and a few taxi drivers had been held. It was alleged that coaches and vehicles had been stopped by taxi drivers at various places and most of the tourists affected were Russians. President of the Federation of Associations of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers (FATTOD) Jeorge Fernandes says their grievance against Russian tourists is that they come on a tourist visa but engage in business, working as tourist guides in coaches.
Russians who do not understand English, prefer travelling in such coaches rather than taxis. However, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) vice-president Ernest Dias said, “The taxi drivers strike did cause inconvenience to our foreign clients and this has affected us. But the reason for cancellation of trips to Goa is due to the credit crunch, followed by the Mumbai blasts.

December 13, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition