Jaunted

The tourism industry in Goa is backing a ban on adverts with pictures of bikini-clad women in a bid to promote the state as a family holiday destination. India's tourist state is fighting a media tag dubbing it a "destination for sex tourism" and local government has announced it will censor advertisements showing scantily-dressed women. President of Travel and Tours Association of Goa (TTAG) Ralf De Souza said: 'Tourism will not be affected if bikini-clad women disappear from the posters. In fact, it may help get good tourists.'

First, Goa's image problem has nothing to do with "bad tourists" vs. "good tourists," whatever that means. It comes from the wave of rapes and molestations, committed mostly by residents, that local officials have been unable to stop. Second, we understand there's always going to be a debate in advertising over exploitation of women vs. sexual liberation. That's not the argument they're making here. They're saying that bikini images tarnish their brand. Really?

Goa would be better off clamping down on what's actually keeping tourists away. Instead they're telling the world that, contrary to popular opinion, pictures of hot women have nothing to do with beach tourism. Good luck with that.

[Photo: Kishisykes / Wiki Commons]

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· Goa bans bikini ads to go 'clean' [UKPA]
· India Travel [Jaunted]
· Tourism Advertising [Jaunted]