New Delhi: Addressing a press conference at Calangute in North Goa, BJP MLA Michael Lobo on Thursday claimed that the sale of idli-sambar in beach shacks is causing a “decline” in international tourist footfall in Goa. He further added that the government alone cannot be blamed if fewer foreigners visit the coastal state as all stakeholders are equally responsible. Especially as most shacks have been rented to outsiders by Goans.

“Some people from Bengaluru are serving ‘vada pav’ in the shacks, some are selling idli-sambar. (That’s why) International tourism has been declining in the state for the past two years,” Lobo said. “If we don’t put a system in place, we will see dark days in the tourism sector,” he continued, without actually explaining the correlation between idli-sambhar and fall in foreign tourists coming to Goa.

This is not the first time that representatives from the Goa government have made comments that appear to be xenophobic and racist. In comments made by Goa Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai in 2018, the minister said that a majority of the domestic tourists visiting Goa are the “scum of the earth” and north Indian tourists want to create a Haryana in Goa. Speaking at the Goa BizFest near Panaji, the Minister then said that it was difficult for a state that was “superior” to the rest of India vis-a-vis most social indices to control “irresponsible tourists” coming from other........

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