British PM concerned about tourists' safety in Goa

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed concern over the safety of British tourists in Goa and said that his government was ready to work with the Indian authorities to improve their safety at the tourist hotspot.

In a letter to Fiona MacKeown, Scarlett Keeling's mother who wrote to Brown about her daughter's death in March, the British prime minister said that his government had raised the matter with the Indian officials.

"While we cannot interfere with the investigation, British officials have continually worked to ensure the case is investigated thoroughly. I understand Scarlett's case was raised with a number of Indian officials," Brown said.

"During this, and other talks with Indian officials, we have raised a number of wider issues that have emerged as a result of Scarlett's death. Given the large numbers of British tourists visiting Goa each year, such tragic incidents affect their perceptions of India and Goa in particular," the British PM said in his letter.

Deaths of Britons have been reported in Goa in the recent years and the Scarlett case was also widely covered in the British media.

"We have offered to work with the Indian authorities to improve the safety of British tourists in the state through improving communication and information to tourists," Brown said.

Welcoming Brown's response, MacKeown said: "It is very good that the premier seems to be thinking along the same lines as myself in terms of seeking improvements in tourist safety in the region as well as offering British expertise on forensics and on policing."

Though, there has not been a noticeable drop in holiday bookings in Goa so far, tour operators fear the number of Britons may dip in final analysis.