PANAJI
With the news of the Director General of Civil Aviation banning the international commercial flights till September 30 in the State of Goa, the tourism business will further get a jolt as the State is already battling with the pandemic associated crises and the sharp economic dip that came along with it.
With mining banned for years and tourism closed for months, the hotel and restaurant owners are now getting anxious over the future of their business. On this backdrop, Gaurish Dhond, president of the Goa Hoteliers Association has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to allow the reopening of hotels with SOPs in place.
Pointing out that the Covid situation looks to be in control now, and the vaccination campaigns are also carried out speedily, Dhond has suggested the reopening of tourism-related businesses so that the industry breathes a sigh of relief. “Looking at the current situation in Goa, it is possible to consider the opening of the State for tourists,” states Dhond, a hotelier himself.
Stating that those whose livelihoods are dependent on tourism and related businesses are out of jobs for the past 18 months, Dhond deliberates, “It is necessary to think of various options of taking precautions and following a strict protocol, the casino business should be allowed to operate in the State. The government can make a positive decision regarding this, albeit with the implementation of stringent covid norms.”
Except for the educational institutions, casinos and massage parlours businesses, all other sectors have gradually begun operating in the State, points out Dhond, adding, “The bars also are open till late nights. There is a State-wide curfew but some rules have been relaxed to open some businesses. The decision to open cinema theatres with 50 % capacity is one such decision, taken last week. All this shows that the situation is favourable to open those businesses that are associated with tourism,” expresses the hotelier from Panaji.
Covid can be treated now, and those who have taken double doses of vaccine, can enter the state now and the government has allowed them entry. Hence, the government should allow the casinos to start now, appeals Dhond. If necessary, the rules could be more stringent for those who enter the casinos and even if they are allowed to operate, there would not be an immediate rush of tourists to enter them, feels Dhond.
The mining business has stopped in Goa and corona has impacted the remaining businesses. The stakeholders in tourism are worried that this lengthy closure of operations would negatively impact their business. The closure of hotels and casinos is adding to the unemployment in the State. As no one can predict how long the situation would remain like this, and if covid is here to stay, we must find ways of coping and living with it, suggests the hotelier.
