India's long time holiday destination Goa, known for its outdoor beach raves, drugs and free love music will be no more. With the state's government putting a ban on dance bars and outdoor parties this will mean the once famous raver's paradise will become a quiet family holiday destination.
The state has progressively tightened controls on nightclubs and outdoor parties over the last few years after a series of high-profile crimes including the rape and murder of a British teenager in 2008.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, elected in the southwestern state last year announced on Thursday that "Dance bars will not be allowed in Goa. There has been a lot of image-beating for the state due to the existence of drugs and prostitution on the beaches. We will clean it up"
Parrikar has made cleaning up Goa's palm tree-lined beaches a priority to make the area attract families. Bigger measures to safeguard foreign tourists will be used including ordering police to remain present on the beaches until midnight. Previously police would withdraw after sunset and the partying will continue.
Once a laid back hippy beach hangout known for drugs, free love and music - retains an image as a free-wheeling oasis in straitlaced India and draws 2.3 million foreign and domestic visitors annually.
Goa's criminal sides were exposed in 2008 by the death of 15-year-old British teenager Scarlett Keeling, who was raped by two men and left for dead after she consumed a cocktail of illegal drugs at a beach cafe. Her death prompted a crackdown on nightclubs and rave parties, with many forced to close down or finish early.
What do you make of this news?
Did you ever get to experience Goa's nightlife?
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