Goa may ban nudity, but unclear about topless bathing

Panaji:  Nudity might be prohibited on Goan beaches, but the state tourism department is ambiguous about "topless bathing" on the beaches of Goa.

"If in doubt, take local advice, especially with regard to topless bathing," the Goa tourism department said in a recently published booklet of ‘do's and don'ts' for tourists visiting the state.

"While the Goan attitude to informal European styles of dress is generally tolerant, local religious or other sensibilities should be borne in mind," states the booklet, which was issued on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Tourism Director Swapnil Naik said the booklet was being distributed free of cost to tourists.

"We are educating people through the booklet. The booklet is published in English and Russian. It will also be published in German soon," Naik said.

"Topless bathing" is popular with European tourists, especially women looking for a sun tan. They lie topless along the popular beach villages like Candolim, Morjim, Arambol, Palolem and other places all along Goa's sunny coast.

In December last year, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the foreign tourists in Goa needed to observe a dress code of some sort.

Nearly 2.4 million tourists visit Goa annually, of which nearly half-a-million are foreigners.