Panaji, Aug 7 (TOI): The Goa Women's Forum, a collective of women volunteers of civic and consumer forums, has expressed concern over the blatant promotion of sex tourism in the state through escort service websites. Pointing out to the enormity of the situation, they say, "Sex services by college girls and housewives are on offer. "

Come September, the forum will organise a weeklong campaign titled 'Say no to sex tourism in Goa' which will culminate on World Tourism Day, September 27.

Convener of the forum, Lorna Fernandes, has appealed to business and trade bodies including the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and the Shack Owners Welfare Society of Goa to take a bold and uncompromising stand against the promotion of sex tourism in Goa.

Blaming various government agencies, including the departments of tourism, women and child development and the Goa police for ignoring warning signals about this growing menace, the forum has appealed to MLAs to take cognizance of this harsh reality and asked them to resolve to prepare a realistic plan of action to put an end to sex tourism in the state.

Speaking at the recent Friday Balcao, at Mapusa, director of Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ), Arunendra Pandey said that unless the anti-human trafficking unit of the Goa police and related agencies take adequate preventive measures, Goa is headed towards turning into a large brothel, similar to the situation in Thailand and the Philippines.