TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane on Tuesday warned the State government to be cautious of Ebola virus and urged it to screen foreign tourists in order to keep the deadly virus at bay.
“People are dying like flies (due to Ebola). We should be alert. Don’t let just about anyone (tourist) to come to Goa in the name of tourism,” Rane said. He stated that a proper scanning and check needs to be undertaken of every tourist landing in Goa to keep the people safe from the virus.
“Goa gets a lot of tourists and if they get such diseases (to Goa), it will affect our future generation. Also tourism industry will suffer” Rane said, adding that Ebola had
moved from Africa to the US and Europe.
With the closure of mining industry, tourism is the only industry that is now the backbone of State’s economy and we cannot take a chance with it, Rane said adding that Congress party is ready to provide all support.
“There is no problem if we get fewer tourists, but the tourism industry and the State should not suffer,” he stated. Goa, a leading beach tourism destination in the country, attracts 2.5 million tourists annually, out of which nearly half a million are foreigners.
