Panaji: The Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2025, introducing stricter measures and heavier penalties to tackle public nuisance and unauthorised activities at tourist hotspots across the state.
The Bill, tabled by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte during the ongoing monsoon session on Friday, seeks to strengthen the 2001 Act by significantly expanding the definition of “nuisance” and enhancing the fine limit to Rs one lakh.
The Bill was passed on the floor of the House after discussion on it.
Khaunte stated that The Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Bill, 2025 also aims to curb unauthorised touting in the tourism sector.
“There are agents for every thing this bill is a positive step to regulate and eliminate touting activities,” he said, highlighting the need for better regulation to protect tourists and maintain order,” he said.
The Bill has revised the definition of nuisance which includes a wide range of activities such as operating boats or floating objects causing danger or pollution, Pestering tourists to buy goods or services, Consuming alcohol or breaking glass bottles in unauthorised areas, Cooking in open or non-designated areas, Littering waste like used materials or bottles, Conducting water sports or ticket sales from non-designated zones, Unauthorised hawking, begging, or operating vehicles on beaches, and Selling tourism services for locations outside the state without permission.
In addition to the above, the new law criminalises obstruction of free tourist movement and coercive sales tactics.
Under the amended Section 10, violators will now face a minimum fine of Rs 5,000, extendable to Rs one lakh, and may also face punishment under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The Bill also introduces Section 10A, which mandates a biennial review of fines by the government, allowing a revision of penalties by up to ten per cent every two years, based on recommendation by the competent authority.
As per statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, the amendment was necessary in light of the rapid rise in tourist footfall and growing instances of violations that have disrupted public order, degraded the environment, and harmed the tourism experience for both visitors and locals.
“This move aims to promote responsible and regenerative tourism in Goa while ensuring a safe, clean, and hospitable environment at tourist locations,” it adds.
The legislation does not entail any financial burden on the state and empowers the government to notify implementation dates and frame relevant rules to enforce the provisions.
