"Tourism Rival" Blamed For Croc"s Appearance on Goa Beach. Seriously.

Panaji:  The appearance of a crocodile on a beach in Goa has been described as a conspiracy by “a rival (tourist) destination”. The mystery competitor is not the only party blamed for the croc’s arrival; the media has “blown the story out of proportion”, according to Francisco Braganza, President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.

The group is one of the oldest tourism bodies in Goa.

Last week, the Goa forest department confirmed that a fully-grown crocodile had made its way to Morjim beach, 30 km from Panaji, and one of the most popular beaches in the state.

Pictures of the crocodile were shared on social media.

Goa draws nearly three million tourists every year.

“Crocodiles live in marshy lands in the interiors. During monsoons, river water close to the sea loses salinity. It is possible the crocodile lost its way through the river and got closer to the beach,” Mr Braganza said in one of his few non-controversial statements on the topic.