PANAJI
With crowds surging at several tourism hotspots, Goa is seemingly decked up to host an unprecedented number of tourists for its famed New Year revelry on Friday in the face of fast rising cases of new Covid-19 infections.
Tourism industry sources say hundreds of thousands of tourists have either already arrived or are still making a beeline for the State and hotels are seeing close to capacity occupancy.
Casinos, nightclubs, bars and restaurants and entertainment venues are reported to be stretched to the limit.
On Wednesday, the government imposed new restrictions wherein entry to all such venues is to be permitted only for guests who are either fully vaccinated or have a Covid negative test report issued 24 hours prior.
Restaurants and other entertainment venues have also been directed to operate only at 50 per cent capacity.
Calangute and Baga were nonetheless abuzz with activity on Thursday as tourists zoomed around on jetskis and took selfies against the sunset.
Cruise boats and restaurants were busy, with managers and owners saying they were finding it hard to keep up with the surge in customers.
"It is very busy... we start at 11 (am) and finish up at 11 (pm), it's 12 hours. Very hectic all the time," said a hotelier, who owns a popular restaurant near the beach.
A visit to the world famous Colva beach revealed a free for all situation with the beach crowded with visitors, mostly domestic tourists.
Sadly, Covid protocols went for a toss. Leave alone social distancing, most of the visitors were without masks. The entire beach was literally soaked in festive environment, with thousands of visitors enjoying the sunset with their families.
Hundreds others were seen taking a swim in the sea, making the task of the life guards difficult.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's reluctance to crack the whip on the partying frenzy ahead of New Year's Eve, however earned him criticism from political opponents.
Presumably loath to disturb a bustling hospitality sector to the relief of entrepreneurs, the Sawant administration has shied away from imposing any serious curbs on the events lined up to ring in the new year.
Also, the new protocols released, mandating full vaccination or RT-PCR negative certificates for guests at casinos, restaurants and party events are being dismissed as mere eyewash by an administration which lacks the wherewithal to ensure compliance.
On Thursday, new daily infections zoomed to 261 from Wednesday's 170, and the positivity rate breached 7%, throwing up ominous signs of a predicted third wave.
Sawant, however, has said decision on any further curbs including imposing night curfew like in the neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra States, if necessary, will be taken only after January 3 next year when the State Task Force on Covid management is slated to meet.
