Israel is alerting citizens visiting India over the New Year’s holiday to stay away from large gatherings amid intelligence warnings of imminent militant attacks.
The Friday statement from the Prime Minister’s counter-terrorism office warned of the “possibility for terror attacks against tourist and Western sites, with an emphasis on the south and west of the country, in the immediate future”.
It said travellers should be wary of New Year’s celebrations especially in places packed with tourists such as beach parties and markets.
Our Goa correspondent Prakash Kamat reports from Panaji:
Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the advisory would not have any impact on tourist arrivals in the State.
Mr. Parsekar said on Saturday that the Israel travel advisory could be a “routine exercise these countries undertake every year”.
When asked about its implications to Goa as a major tourist destination, Mr. Parsekar told The Hindu that he did not foresee any such adverse effect.
“You see, in the first place such routine advisories have become common in recent times. Respective governments feel it their duty to alert their citizens. As far as we are concerned, out police department is completely in touch with the Central agencies and there is no threat alert or anything of that kind,” Mr. Parsekar said adding that the State law and order agencies are fully geared to take care of tourists.
Goa is a major tourist destination attracting about 4 million tourists annually with about 500,000 foreign tourists. Young Israelis have been regular visitors to Goa and have their presence on north coastal belt of Goa during tourist season.
