PANAJI: A Mumbai-based netizen whothrough social media postsrecently sought to portrayGoa’s famed coastline as agetaway from the pandemicrestrictions, apologised in afollow-up post after she wastrolled by hundreds.“I didn’t realise that the localsfelt so strongly againsthaving visitors and didn’twant tourists here,” she saidin her follow-up post.She claimed she was a travelcontent writer and wants tosupport travel as it is so badlyaffected.“The Goa government hasopened up its State for tourismand being a t
ravel contentcreator, I want to standby travel. Travel is the mostaffected industry in this pandemic.I want to support it,”the post said.Earlier on August 14, shehad posted a picture of herselfriding pillion on a two-wheelerin North Goa and describedit as heaven.“After 5 months at home Ifeel like a prisoner who escapedand found freedom.Goa has opened up for tourism,”she said in the August14 post from Anjuna in NorthGoa.She also posted details ofthe SOPs in place, includingtaking a Covid-19 test, to travelto Goa.She was however trolled fornot wearing a mask in the picture “Liberated without a mask?” was a commentposted on her timeline by anothernetizen.Her comment that Goa is empty andthe streets deserted and suggesting thatothers come to Goa, also did not go downwell. Goa has been struggling to cope withrising Covid cases which have now crossedthe 13,000 mark. Many blame the situationon the decision to recklessly open up theborders for tourists.
