PANAJI
In what could spell as bad news for Goa, which was readying for inbound foreign charter tourists, the new Covid variant Omicron could prove to be a dampener for the charter industry in India, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishen Reddy said on Saturday.
Reddy also said that Goa should look to tap into the Central government's initiatives to boost international cruise tourism terminals and develop heli-taxis to promote tourism activities in the coastal state.
"We have made a decision and we have met tour operators from different countries in Delhi. We had opened charter flights, but because of the new variant, countries have imposed restrictions on tour operators in their countries, therefore a problem has cropped up again," Reddy told a press conference here on Saturday.
"The tourism sector not just in India, but across the world was affected. Domestic tourism is picking up now and people are travelling to destinations in a big number. But today, there is debate about the third wave," he said.
"But I urge the people, whether the third wave hits or not, everyone should follow Covid protocol and travel to tourist destinations. People should follow their itinerary. State governments have also taken their own decisions regarding following protocol," the Union Minister added.
Reddy also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on pushing international charter tourism in the country on 'mission mode' and added that developing an international cruise terminal in Goa would be beneficial to the state.
"Cruise tourism is a part of the Sagarmala initiative, our Shipping ministry is encouraging it. In the coming days, cruise tourism development will be taken up on a mission mode, as per directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Reddy said.
"If cruise tourism is developed in Goa the largest amount of benefit will be accrued by Goa. Andaman, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai all these destinations can be connected to Goa. Passenger terminals will be developed in ports and the Tourism ministry has given the Shipping department money to develop the same," he added.
The Union Minister also said that officials from his Ministry would be soon working out an action plan with their Shipping Ministry counterparts to start cruise terminals of international standards at various places along India's coastline.
Reddy also urged Goa to replicate the North East model and develop heli-taxis for the promotion of tourism.
"In the North East, we have developed heli-taxis in many places. It can be done here too. Goa is a tourism destination, it should have a helipad... We also do gap funding for helicopter taxis to control rates," the Union Minister said.
