Panaji, Oct 20 (IANS): After objections from Hindu rightwing groups, Baba Ramdev's outfit and the Catholic church, now a criminal complaint has been filed against the organisers of an event on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) tourism.

Retired captain Dattaram Sawant, a member of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), Thursday filed the complaint against the organizers of the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM), which includes the Goa government and tourism and travel industry stakeholders.

It said LGBT tourism would lend Goa, already known as a sex and narcotics tourism hub, a bad name.

"We have asked police not to give the organisers permission to hold the discussion on LGBT tourism at GITM (beginning Friday). The organisers are disturbing the peace and harmony of Goa by imposing this kind of tourism here," Sawant told reporters after filing the complaint.

"We are not going to let LGBT tourism take root in Goa. And the Goa government should not endorse this concept because it is against every religion in the state," Sawant said.

Tourism experts have said LGBT tourism might constitute the biggest slice of India's tourist pie in the near future, with differently-oriented couples finding tourism in India, a cheaper alternative to other European countries and a safe haven, especially after homosexuality was decriminalised following a court order.

But clearly, religious groups and others are fuming.

Bharat Swabhiman Trust (BST) started by yoga Baba Ramdev has said it will oppose the promotion of LGBT tourism in Goa.

"Even if the government gives permission, people here will not accept it. In the last few years, the Goa government has already allowed drug trafficking, casinos and prostitution to fester, now this! We are going to lobby with people against the promotion of LGBT tourism here," Kamlesh Bandekar, spokesperson for the BST, told IANS.

Rajesh Korgaonkar, spokesperson for HJS, said LGBT tourism would cause "damage to the rich cultural and social fabric of the state".

The church authorities are circumspect, blaming the Goa government's attempt to orient tourism to cater to LGBT tourists.

"We cannot alienate these people. No one can prevent them from coming here, but why does the government need to be oriented towards them," asked Fr Francisco Caldeira, spokesperson for the Bishop's House in Goa.

The angry voices erupted after the state tourism authority and travel and tourism groups announced sensitisation efforts for LGBT tourism.

"It is an emerging tourism trend in Europe and has the potential to become one of the biggest segments in tourism," tourism director Swapnil Naik has said.

Goa, known for its famous beaches, attracts nearly 2.6 million tourists annually, of which nearly half a million are foreigners.