Old rants on foreigners in Goa

The following are some letters to the editor of mine that were published in Goa's Herald in the past. I wrote the second one in response to a displeased reply from a British national to the first one. Some things have changed since then: The rule that kept all foreigners out for two months between visits to India was scrapped.

Arrogant Foreigners in Goa

I am a Canadian who travels to India every year to visit family in Mumbai and Goa. I am appalled when I observe the arrogance of some of the foreign visitors to Goa who act as though spending a little money here gives them the right to stay for as long as they like, do whatever they please, and speak to the locals as if they are beneath them. I am equally disheartened when I witness the Goans who welcome the disrespectful behaviour of these types of people. The Indian visa rules have been changing due to the number of visitors who flout them, e.g. by working/doing business on a tourist visa, overstaying, engaging in illegal activities, etc. In a country that is constantly under the threat of terrorism, the tightening of these rules is necessary, commendable, and should be respected by all visitors.

A privilege, not a right

As I stated in my letter to the editor, Arrogant foreigners in Goa, I am Canadian. Hence, the same visa rules and laws apply to me. It is a privilege to visit a foreign country, not a right, and I repeat, as visitors, we must respect the rules of that country. No one is telling us not to travel to India. I don’t like the two-month rule either, but I respect it.

A British tourist who lives in a Goan village for five months out of the year might feel disconnected from the harsh realities that Indian citizens must deal with every day. While decent European or North American tourists might not be terrorists, there cannot be separate rules for us and the rest of the visitors to India. I wonder what Brian Morris (1 February, Arrogant foreigners?) meant by his observation that “class issues and Indian tourists are of concern.”

Furthermore, it is illogical to compare foreign nationals who come to Goa to live off their savings for part of the year to Goans who settle abroad. The latter must show all their assets to the government of that country and undergo a thorough selection process, while the former need only answer basic questions on a form and pay a fee. A tourist visa is not a residence visa; liking Goa does not entitle someone to remain in Goa. I would like to know what those foreign nationals who have chosen to stay beyond six months are doing here. Are they working for local companies and paying income tax to the Indian government?