Aug 4, 2025: If you're going to Goa soon, you should probably read the fine print literally. A bill that could result in fines of up to one lakh rupees for unruly tourists has just been passed by the Goa Assembly as part of a new rule that monitors tourist behavior. The message is loud and clear: Goa is ready to clean up its act and yours too.

Several New Rules for Tourists:
The Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Amendment Bill, 2025, a new version of the original 2001 Act, was presented by the state's Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on August 1, 2025. The maximum fine for nuisance under the new law goes up from a few thousand to one lakh rupees.

You can anticipate tighter regulations for things like: breaking bottles or drinking alcohol in public places where it is not allowed cooking in undefined areas or open spaces soliciting the purchase of goods or services from tourists begging, littering, or selling illegal goods at popular beaches operating vessels or floating objects that pose a threat or pollute Driving on beaches or preventing travel by tourists selling travel packages to destinations other than Goa without state approval.

Why is Goa now enforcing these regulations?
According to the state, it is in response to an increase in unruly behavior, environmental damage, and illegal commercial activity as well as an increase in the number of tourists. Khaunte says that the rules also want to get rid of unruly touts and stop tourists from being conned. Coercive sales practices and other activities that disrupt a peaceful tourist experience are also targets of the law. Locals and tourists who break the rules can be fined anywhere from 5,000 to 1 lakh under the new law. Some offences can also attract punishment under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly part of the Indian Penal Code), especially if you disobey orders from public officials.

What else should visitors be aware of?
A new clause (Section 10A) mandates that the government review fines every two years and adjust them by up to 10%.
Responsible and regenerative tourism are the primary goals, which aim to improve visitor and local experiences. The authorities have high hopes that this crackdown will result in less shady vendors, safer beaches, and other areas.