In a sharp critique of inbound domestic tourists, Goa's Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on Friday said that most Indian tourists who travel to the sunshine State are "scum of the earth".
Sardesai, who also holds the crucial Town and Country Planning Ministry also said claimed that Goa was a much superior to other Indian States. Its difficult to control tourists from under-developed States who visits Goa, because they lacked a sense of responsibility and consciousness.
"Today, we have got almost six times population of Goa coming as tourists. Those tourists are not the top end tourists, they are also the scum of the earth —Are they responsible? Are they conscious? They are not. If u compare Goans to the rest of India, we are very high in per capita income, in social and political consciousness, in health parameters, so many parameters. So we are much superior than people, who are coming in. Those people, how will you control?" Sardesai said, while speaking at the Goa Biz Fest event which is being held at a resort located on the outskirts of Panaji.
Further commenting on the quality of tourists, Sardesai said: "We decided to put all eggs in one basket. The British (tourists) have gone away. And now, we are dependent upon the north Indians and this is what they do. They are not bothered about Goa. They would like to recreate a Haryana in Goa".
"Goa is different, our identity is unique. We have to have our own model of development. Our model has to be what we decide. It cannot be we want to recreate something which has happened somewhere. The Government will have to come out with a solution," Sardesai said.
Goa is one of the leading destinations for beach and nightlife tourism.