No bikini ban on Goa beaches: Minister

The minister was reacting to the media reports which claimed,quoting a senior Tourism Ministry official,that bikinis would be banned on the state’s beaches. “How will people bath in the sea without swimwear? There is nothing vulgar in wearing beachwear on the beaches,” he said.

Pacheco said the Tourism Ministry was concerned over wrong portrayal of Goa’s image as a sex tourism destination and that’s why the directives were issued to delete bikini-clad women from the advertisements.“This is a family holiday destination. There are lakhs of families,many from neighbouring states,who holiday here,” he said.

The minister said the ban on bikinis could not be imposed because foreigners came down here to take sunbath on the beaches.

Pacheco,an NCP legislator,had recently expressed his worries over spate of crimes against tourists in the state after two Russian women were reportedly raped during the past two months.

The minister had demanded that the Congress high command re-allot the portfolios and move out “inefficient” ministers.