Calangute / Panjim, Jan 10(ANI): The Goa Government has decided to ban bikini-clad women from their tourism promotions in order to uphold the tourist hotspot as a “family holiday destination”.

The decision was announced on Saturday, after a section of the media criticised the state as a “destination for sex-tourism”, in the wake of several cases of rape of foreign tourists.

The State Government is now fighting the tag given by the media and is taking all possible measures to promote it as family holiday destination, which include not showing scantily-clad women in the advertisements.

State Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco said agencies had been notified to desist putting bikini-clad women in their advertisements.

“In fact in my tenure, we don’t even release an ad with bikini clothing. And there was caution. And we also told the agencies - we have empanelled agencies - that before you release the ad, make sure that we see those ads and then we release them,” he said.

“But there is no single ad which released in my tenure with such costumes,” Pacheco added.

Many Indian tourists have supported the decision, and said that it becomes a little uncomfortable to visit the place with one’s family after seeing advertisements with scanty-clad women.

“We cannot go with our family after seeing bikini advertisements. But their point is that if they won’t have bikini ad, then foreign tourists won’t come. We feel shy with family if they see a bikini ad,” said Ramesh, a tourist.

The recent incidents of rape and other sexual crimes have tarnished the image of Goa, which has for years been one of the most favoured tourist destinations for both Indian and foreign tourists, and now the state government is trying hard to re-establish the state’s image as a tourist hotspot.

The colonial Portuguese charm, sun-kissed beaches and great seafood attract millions of foreign and domestic tourists to visit Goa every year. (ANI)