By IANS,
Panaji: With Wendell Rodricks preoccupied, the Goa tourism department is scouting for a designer to weave fancy threads for it’s in-the-making Tourism Security Force (TSF), one of the few such teams in the country.
Speaking to IANS Friday, tourism director Swapnil Naik said that fashion designer Wendell Rodricks had been approached to design the uniform, but he is “busy and extremely caught up with his work.”
“However, we have received some designs for the TSF uniforms from interested parties who offered their services and we are in the process of evaluating the same. We hope to finalise the designs by the end of the month,” Naik said.
One of the leading destinations in the country, Goa attracts nearly 2.6 million tourists annually, of which half a million are foreigners.
Recruitment for the TSF started last year, amidst a rising wave of crimes against tourists in Goa, especially against foreign women on the beaches.
Initially, the TSF was started as a pilot project by the central tourism ministry to promote safety of tourists.
The TSF was supposed to be launched last October – at the outset of Goa’s six-month tourism season, but the exercise was mired in red tape and is likely to be fully operational in time for the start of the tourism season this year.
Naik, however, said that the TSF is operational along Goa’s beaches and other places of tourist interest albeit in a small way.
“The Tourist Security Force has already begun operations in the state since the last few months, albeit with a limited staff. However, a 500 strong tourist security force is being set up. The recruitment process is presently underway by the personnel department,” Naik said.
“The force will include ex-service men as well as local youth, especially recruited to safeguard tourists visiting Goa. On completion of the recruitment process, officers will receive appropriate training in order to sensitize them on issues pertaining to tourists, women and children. An induction ceremony will be held at the time,” he further said.