PANAJI
With the tourist season fast approaching the hospitality industry in the State is on tenterhooks with stakeholders keeping their fingers crossed on the government’s move to open up visas for foreign tourists which will in turn, pave the way for charters.
Though branded hotels were not shut during the pandemic, they suffered huge losses as the occupancy was very less and they also had to slash the tariff rates while retaining their salaried staff.
Small and medium hotel owners also suffered maximum losses during the pandemic, claims Serafin Cota, president of Small and Medium Hotel Owners’ Association.
“If the government keeps a strict vigil on the type of tourists entering the State, and stresses on double vaccinations and Covid negative certificates, the upcoming tourist season can help the crumbling economy to some extent,” feels Cota.
Goa, the most favourite holiday destination of domestic as well as international tourists, has around 3500 registered hotels, out of which 2100 were shut and only 1400 were operating during the lockdown.
There was loss of livelihood for thousands. The tourist footfalls were negligent, as all other modes of entertainment were shut -- casinos anchored, curtains down at cinema halls, shutters closed for most businesses like saloons, spas, gyms, auditoriums, clubs, cruises, bars, pubs and taverns.
Goa, which was dependent on tourism, has suffered huge losses during the last 18 months and the public outcry now, demands opening of everything. It is at this juncture that Goa is looking at the tourism as its only hope of getting stronger, economically.
But the State should be careful while choosing who their tourists are, cautions Cota who has done a survey of 100 clients. As an owner of a small resort in South Goa, Cota points out that tourists come Goa for want of cheap liquor and 27 % of them come as sex tourists.
“Alcohol gives revenue to the government. At the time of exit of ready alcohol from the factory, there’s excise fee, which goes to the government in Goa. The wholesaler too has to pay income tax. But the most revenue earned by the government is 22% when liquor is consumed at the bars. However, most of the domestic tourists purchase liquor from shops and drink on beaches, so this revenue is lost,” he says, and appeals that Goa needs more of cultured, decent tourists, for the economy to scale up.
Anand Chatterjee, general manager, Planet Hollywood, South Goa feels “technically the hotels were open, but there was no occupancy. From April to August in 2020, we were shut but we were open from September 2020 to March 1, 2021 before the second wave hit the State.
“If there’s no tourism this year, our business will be affected. Now, slowly, we are coming back to normal, and hoping to gain average 15-20% occupancy. If travel is allowed, then there’s still hope of gaining some business,” he said.
Nilesh Shah, president, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) points out various challenges that travel and tourism industry is facing currently.
“In Goa, 1,50,000 people are directly dependent on tourism which means around 6 lakh people get their daily earnings from this industry”, he says.
Shah further says, “Taxi operators, tourist guides, cruise operators, musicians, decorators also suffered due to the pandemic. Goa, which is the most favourite wedding destination, lost business in this sector too. So, if the economy has to revive and thrive now, the government should open all the verticals, albeit with strict norms.”
Shah points out that there will be election in the coming months and festivals too, which may see a rise in the Covid cases. “But we must realise that Covid is here to stay. We have to open the economy and open all sectors, while marketing the safety aspect. Let’s follow SOPs and start tourism,” the TTAG president said.
