Focus on crucial aspect of tourists’ safety: Dahl’s kin

Panaji: Instead of attracting more tourists to the state, as outlined by the Goa tourism masterplan, Goa should focus on the crucial aspect of safety of tourists, especially foreigners, said relatives of foreign tourists who lost their lives in Goa.

Unsolved murders and lethargic investigations gave Goa the appearance of a “very risky, dangerous destination”, said Felix Dahl’s mother, Minna Pirhonen. Dahl, a Swedish tourist who came to Goa in October 2014, was found dead in Patnem on January 28, 2015. His family has suspected foul play.

Pirhonen has written an open letter to the department of tourism in which she has outlined three steps that the Goa government can take to make Goa a safe destination for tourists. “The answer to improving tourism in Goa is definitely not to try to bring in more tourists when you cannot even cope with the numbers you get today,” Pirhonen said. “The killings covered by the media worldwide... prove the poor safety aspect.”

Pirhonen said unsolved murders should be investigated rapidly to have the guilty prosecuted and convicted. “As long as Goans who have seriously harmed tourists are protected by authorities and police, Goa is considered a very unsafe destination,” said Sanna Pirhonen-Cutter, Pirhonen’s sister. Crimes happen elsewhere too, but there is an attempt to catch the killers, and that is not the case in Goa, she said.

The sisters also sought immediate action when a tourist is found dead. Tourists should be warned of areas where they could be vulnerable, they said.