Goa police along with the hotel and tourism industry have agreed to new security rules regarding incoming tourists. Under the new advisory, hotels will have the option to take a picture of every guest that checks into a hotel located in the popular tourist state.

“Photos of all guests checking into the hotel may be clicked at the reception counter and kept for record,” a Goa police advisory recently issued to hotels.

Additionally, the advisory calls for hotels to discourage “walk-in guests” without reference or bookings, and visitors of current guests cannot pass further than reception. “Visitors wanting to meet guests should not be allowed to go to the guest’s room but the guest should be asked to meet the visitor in the lobby/reception itself. All visitors must be given a visitor pass,” the advisory states.

Goa is in the midst of curbing criminal activities in an effort to attract more tourism. The local economy is heavily dependent on foreign and local travelers escaping to the sandy shores of it’s beaches. Tourists should be aware that an increased security presence will be felt as hotels limit access points, upgrade staffing as well as training policies.