legislators in the State cutting across party lines scratched their heads over how to act against foreign nationals conducting business in the State including the drug business. The issue was raised first by Michael lobo, who represents the tourist frequented Calangute consitutency who said that tourists from Russia and Ukraine, were ‘stealing’ taxi and beach-shack businesses from local youth in the tourism-oriented coastal belt.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, while responding to a calling attention motion, also promised the House a crackdown on foreigners, illegally staying or carrying out businesses in Goa.“They come as tourists and steal businesses from local youth. Especially Russians are doing this taxi business illegally, stealing opportunities from the local youth,” lobo said, adding that a lot of popular shacks along the coastline were also operated by foreigners.
Goa’s local tourist taxi industry is unorganised and largely unruly with no standard rates nor proper compliance of Government norms.Against this backdrop, foreign travel operators essentially from Russia, have started scooping up the tour business. While some have been carrying out businesses legally, lobo claims there are several who arrive on tourist visas and work as tour guides and tour operators.
Russians account for the highest number of foreign tourists in the State which attracts three million visitors annually, nearly half a million of which foreigners followed by Britishers.leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane claimed that African nationals were selling drugs openly in Goa and increasing clout of the drug mafia was spilling out on Goa’s roads.