VASCO
As thousands of tourists and other passengers arrive in the State by flights, many of them are likely to come into contact with hundreds of black-yellow taxis and tourists taxis stationed outside Dabolim airport to transport them to their destinations.
Mindful that this contact with tourists places them at a higher risk of contracting Covid, a growing number of taxi operators have insisted that they be considered on high priority for the Covid vaccination drive, given their key involvement in the tourism industry and their significant role as contributors to the state economy.
Salim Shaikh, a taxi driver associated with the United Taximen Union (UTU), an association with about 300 yellow-black taxis at the Airport, insisted that taximen must be considered as frontline workers and should be given the Covid vaccination on priority to ensure the safety of those employed in the tourism industry.
“We should be treated as frontline workers as well, because we are a key part of the tourism industry in the State. Tourism has played a vital role in the State's economy in the last few months despite the pandemic.”
“We are the first ones to get in touch with tourists, who arrive from different states. We are the ones who take them to their destinations and we can never be sure about the health status of our passengers,” said Salim.
Salim said taxi operators take tourists around in the small and confined cabins of their cars to different parts of the State.
“Sometimes, they come close to us and we have the highest risk of contracting Covid. If we get infected, we can spreads the virus to our families, who are also at risk and the chain can spread to others in the area.”
“The government must look at us as frontline workers and get us vaccinated on top priority. There are many taxi drivers who are young and below 45 years. Should we let them risk their lives” asked Shaikh.
A tourist taxi operator, Asif Mohammed Jaffer Shaikh, said while they had no official counters, the State government must come forward and also take them into confidence and treat them as Covid warriors.
“Today, the State may be struggling due to the pandemic, but still we have a high inflow of tourists and this has kept the tourism business alive in the State.”
“The State government must acknowledge this and look at us as participants to the economy. The least they can do is to think about our safety and that of our families,” said Asif.
“We cannot force the government to take a policy decision and insist on Covid-negative certificates for tourists arriving in the State. But we can, at least, ask the government to get us vaccinated on top priority.”
Asif claimed that while government servants are given priority as frontline warriors, the taxi operators who have been contributing to the economy by being in close contact with tourists have been sidelined.
“We must also be given equal importance and arrangements must be made for us to get vaccinated as well," said Shaikh.
Messias: Hospitality sector must get vaccine priority
VASCO: Stating that the tourism industry has been supporting the state economy, former Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias said the industry has appealed to the State government to conduct a Covid vaccination drive for employees in the travel and tourism sector.
"It is the tourism industry which is supporting the economy and those employed in the hospitality industry should be give preference for the vaccination.”
“The industry has requested the State government to conduct a vaccination drive for those employed in the travel and tourism sector and they have expressed willingness to support the government financially as well as with the infrastructure for the drive.”
“Vaccination drives at hotels can be encouraged and the hotel industry will support it. We had a TTAG meeting on Thursday and the proposal of a vaccination drive in hotels was considered to be placed before the government. Now, it is left for the Government to take a call and support the industry,” said Messias.
