PANAJI
Goa, the tiny but most prominent spot on the international map in the tourism industry, is gaping at the speed with which the second wave of Corona is hitting the State and the rest of the country as well. With loosened protocols for the entrants from other states and countries, Goa is sitting on a time bomb which could explode anytime in the near future.
As the hospitality industry is the most vulnerable one, when it comes to running the business, those working in it are more prone to Covid infections. The players in the industry are demanding that vaccination be carried out at a faster pace and all stake holders covered under this precautionary measure.
Expressing his fear and concern for those working in the tourism and hospitality sector, Sunil Naik, former secretary at Clube Tennis de Gasper Dias, Miramar opines, “Goa is seen as a green pasture by the domestic and walk-in tourists who travel from neighbouring States like Maharashtra and Karnataka. This is an alarming situation as it will expose those working in the tourism and hospitality, directly to Covid-19.”
Pointing out that there is no curfew or lockdown in Goa and no Covid negative certificate is being asked while entering the State, Naik deliberates, “Also, there is no stringent thermal checking at the major entry points, which leaves a gap for asymptomatic persons to come to Goa by road and infect others around them. The receptionists, housekeeping staff and waiters are the first among getting infected through such entrants.”
Naik who completed his secretarial tenure at Club Gasper de Dias four months ago, recalls, “We followed the norms and procedures stringently and run the place with 50 per cent occupancy. Half of the rooms were offered to the customers, and the rest were kept vacant, as the rooms vacated needed to be sanitised properly after the guests left and kept vacant for at least 24 hours before offering them to the next guest. This resulted in loss of income, but no compromise was done at the cost of the customer’s health.”
Manoj Caculo, president, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and MD at Caculo Group of companies endorses the need to vaccinate the tourism and hospitality employees on a priority basis. “Looking from Goa’s point of view, tourism is the prime sector in the State as far as revenue is taken into account and hence, all those who are directly or indirectly associated with the sector, should be vaccinated immediately,” says Caculo who also points out that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has already taken up this issue with the Centre and the government awaits a nod from the Health Ministry.
While the Star hotels are following Covid protocols, small and medium hotels, shacks and restaurants have suffered revenue losses during the past 12 months. The Star hotels are open but the footfalls have reduced and the business has cut down. On the contrary, the casinos are making good business compared to the same period two years ago, claims a resort owner from South Goa, who also shares that 85 per cent of the small and medium hotels in South Goa are shut and only 15 per cent are operating currently.
“These hotel owners are facing financial crunch, there are even cases of suicide. Many have loans and other overheads, and no business so no salaries to pay to their employees. Banks have attached the properties of few. There are illegal guest houses run by outsiders with the help of locals and these keep no accounts. If these illegalities are brought to the notice of the authorities, no action is being taken. On the contrary, protection is being given to those who do illegalities in exchange of various favours,” alleged the resort owner.
There are dangers of operating businesses without taking precautions. 70 per cent of the staff in casinos are non-Goans and as they come in close contact with the customers, they are vulnerable. After duty hours they move in the public. They can be silent carriers, too. Recently, Maharasthra announced curfew on Saturday, Sunday and Goans fear that the crowd from this State and neighbouring Karnataka will flock to Goa on weekends, making situation worse here.
Tourists look at Goa as a place for rave parties, drugs, alcohol, gambling, prostitution. Unless, one takes positive steps in cleaning this image of Goa, unwanted tourists will keep coming and creating nuisance. The government should take firm steps to curb illegalities and make Goa a better, cleaner and healthier place, where good tourists feel safe to visit.
