PANAJI, Goa – Cracking down on illegally operating foreign tourist guides, the tourism development last week imposed penalties on five Russian and one Ukrainian national under the Goa Registration of Tourist Act, 1982.

Tourism department has also written to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to take appropriate action against the six foreigners caught red-handed carrying out illegal business activities. The passport details of the six foreigners have been submitted to the FRRO.

While five the Russians- Dmitry Kudlaev, Eurokhina Valentina, Pavel Cattapob, Polikarpova Ekaterina and Romanova Luhia-were fined 10,000 each, Ukrainian national Ihuk Julia was fined 2,000. The FRRO superintendent of police Tony Rodrigues when contacted said that they have initiated proceedings for deporting the foreigners reported to them for illegally operating in Goa by the tourism department.

At the fag-end of the last tourist season, the tourism department had fined one Russian woman who was caught operating as a tourist guide at Old Goa without a business visa. The complaint was filed by John Mascarenhas, a member of Goa tourist guides association about illegal business operations of Russians.

Mascarenhas said business activities of Russians have extended beyond the realm of tourist guides working without a business visa. “Many operate as tour operators, some have donned the hat of wedding planners whereas some agents for sourcing vehicles for tourists,” said Mascarenhas.

He claimed that most operators do not have business visas and even those who come on business visas do not stick to their stated business activity. “Even reputed tour operating companies hire the services of Russians who are here on tourist visas,” he alleged.

A tourism official maintained that they do take action when such activities are brought to their notice however; he said it is not an easy task to track them when they are in hand in-glove with key local persons. Some Russians also operate shacks mostly in the North beach belt areas of Morjim, Ashvem and Arambol with the blessing of the locals.