Goa Assembly Passes Law with Stricter Penalties to Curb Tourist Harassment and Illegal Activities
Panaji, 2nd August 2025: In a significant move to enhance tourist safety and curb unauthorised practices, the Goa Assembly on August 1 approved the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2025. The newly amended law introduces sharper penalties for a broad spectrum of violations at tourist hotspots across the state.
The amendment, introduced by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, aims to tackle increasing complaints related to coercive sales, unauthorised hawking, persistent touting, begging, cooking in open spaces, and misuse of vehicles on beaches. The government stated the growing tourist influx necessitated more robust measures to uphold public order and protect the quality of tourism in Goa.
Khaunte noted that unregulated agents have become pervasive and stressed the need to clamp down on touting to preserve the integrity of Goa’s tourism sector. He described the bill as a proactive step toward ensuring a safer, more structured travel experience.
The scope of what constitutes a public nuisance has been broadened under the bill. It now includes acts such as littering, the use of floating devices that endanger public safety or pollute water bodies, alcohol consumption or breaking glass in prohibited areas, unauthorised ticketing for water sports, and promoting tourism services outside Goa without requisite permissions.
Violators will now face fines starting from ₹5,000, going up to ₹1,00,000. In addition, non-compliance with directives from public officials may invite legal consequences under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The bill also incorporates a provision for a biennial review of fines, allowing revisions of up to 10% based on inputs from the competent authority.
Officials cited rising instances of misconduct as a serious concern impacting not only tourist satisfaction but also public safety and environmental wellbeing.
