PANAJI
Casinos in Goa should open for business by next month, but only after gauging the Covid situation in the country, Ports Minister Michael Lobo said on Thursday.
Lobo also said that only after the opening up of the casino sector, would tourists start streaming into the State.
"Casinos right now have not started. Government will consider starting casinos by next month looking at the situation in the country. If the Covid situation in the country improves then the casinos will start. Because once casinos start we will get tourists in the State of Goa," the Ports Minister said.
Lobo also said that tourism-related businesses were slowly opening up with tourists streaming into the state over weekends.
He also said that the central government should start considering opening up flights for tourists on international routes which are secured under bilateral air bubble agreements.
"We hope that the tourism business improves, once Covid-19 comes down. We are also hoping that the international Charter flights open in the state of Goa like flights from Europe, Russia and some of the European countries. Since there is a ban on tourists coming to India, I feel that the MHA should give relaxation for these bubble flights specially charter flights coming from one country to the other and they are double vaccinated and they should produce RTPCR negative test," Lobo said.
"They can do an antigen test and enter the state. This is what we are expecting the central government to do," he added.
