Holidaymakers enjoying the sun on the beaches of Goa have been told that topless sunbathing is unacceptable in new guidelines laid down by local authorities.
The pocket book, published by the state government, offers warnings on a series of issues, including nudism and, oddly, what to wear while riding a motorbike.
Cover up: Holidaymakers in Goa have been warned against topless sunbathing
“Nudity on the beaches and public places is strictly forbidden,” the guide states. “If in doubt take local advice, especially with regard to topless bathing”
It continues: “Never ride a two-wheeler without clothes on the upper part of the body.”
The handbook has been issued in the wake of growing concerns in Goa about the behaviour of tourists. Although the smallest state in India, the area’s long stretches of sand attract some 400,000 visitors a year, the majority of them British and Russian.
The guidebook is available in English and Russian, with a German edition also planned.
One local MP, Shantaram Naik, has gone as far as to accuse Russian tourists of “corrupting the minds of locals” and leaving a “horrifying impression on schoolchildren”.
Goa, with its long stretches of sand such as Anjuna Beach, attracts some 400,000 overseas tourists each year
The book, which can be picked up in hotels, asks foreign visitors to be aware of local religious and cultural sensitivities, and also offers strict reminders of India’s zero-tolerance policies on drug taking and possession.
Huddled on India’s west coast, Goa was a Portuguese colony from the early 16th century, and remained in Portuguese hands until 1961, 14 years after the rest of the country had achieved independence from British rule.
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