Goa Tourism Department Files Complaint Against Entrepreneur Over 'False' Claims on X

Goa's tourism department has lodged a police complaint against an entrepreneur who urged others to share their negative experiences as travellers in Goa on X, as reported by The Indian Express.

Rajesh Kale, the Deputy Director of Tourism, filed the complaint with the Superintendent of Police at Panaji's cyber crime station, alleging "public mischief" at 3:52 pm on November 5.

Photo Credit: PTI

According to Kale, the entrepreneur "disseminated false data through his social media X handles, thereby causing significant annoyance to local businesses and inducing fear or alarm within the local community."

The entrepreneur, who has around 22,500 followers on X, describes himself as the founder of an "online legal learning platform."

In his post about Goa, he wrote, "Foreign tourists have abandoned (Goa) already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead. Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about exploitation of tourists while there are so many cheaper comparable locations abroad."

He also shared a chart suggesting a decline in foreign tourists to Goa.

In his complaint, Kale stated that Goa's reputation as a major tourist destination for both domestic and international visitors was being tarnished by these false claims. He noted that the entrepreneur had referenced data from the China Economic Information Center (CEIC), but it was not credible or verified by the tourism department.

"The propagation of such false statements not only jeopardises the reputation of our state but also poses a serious threat to public tranquillity," Kale remarked, according to The Indian Express.

The complaint also suggests that these events may be part of a larger scheme to damage the state's image, as Goa has recently faced criticism regarding its cabs, hotels, and other tourism-related services.