26 Feb 2021  |   04:25am IST

The old normal is still on hold for avid Goan travellers

The increase in the numbers of the virus in the country and worldwide has scuttled the travel plans of Goans, many of whom like to travel domestically and internationally. Café spoke to people whose plans have been affected and others

 Last year was a nightmare or everyone. Industries came to a standstill, jobs were lost in very large numbers and it looked like the world as everyone knew it had come to an end. It was a world that could not seem to consider the future with any confidence. The human spirit however kicked in and companies started working on vaccines to tackle the virus. It seemed like hope was around the corner. The start of the new year indicated an upswing in sentiment thanks to the availability of vaccines internationally and more importantly domestically. People have started receiving their injections but there also seems to be rise in the number of cases around the country and internationally. This is very apparent in states around Goa. Goans like to take a break from it all during the summer and either visit salubrious locales in the country or abroad. That however now seems to be scuttled with worries increasing amongst Goans about the virus. 

Nilesh Shah President TTAGsaid “It is going to be very difficult. Going out of India is out of the question. Places like Dubai, Maldives are issuing visas very easily but no one is considering these offers. People are very reluctant. I don’t foresee Goans travelling out of the country for the next four to five months”. 

The surge in the number of cases has had different reactions from various people. Smitha Bhandare Kamat an Associate Professor in a local college said she would stay put in Goa this year. She said they would usually go around the country and learn more about places in the country but this time the virus had forced their hand. 

Nolan Mascarenhas however intended to indulge in road travel within the country this year. He said “Usually, I travel abroad but now the world has closed its borders. Recently I visited Coorg and did a quick three day stop over there. I was in the lap of nature and ate some interesting food. Before that I visited Varanasi and went to the Ghats. I will move about much more domestically via road and learn more about my country.” 

Moiz Arsiwlala an architect said he and his family would visit Japan every year to meet his wife’s relatives but this would not be possible this year. He however did not plan to stay put in Goa during the summer vacation. He said “I intend to ride solo to the north east on my bike. This will be done over a period of twenty two days. I intend to go to Mizoram and up till the Bhutan border. I love going out solo rides.” 

Jason Fernandes an IT professional with a company based out of Taiwan said he was scheduled to go over but all plans were off now. With regards to relaxing during the summer, he said he would take a staycation in some of beautiful corner of Goa for a couple of days. He said “I don’t take long breaks but mix my work schedule with short breaks. It will be fine if people stay put for a while”. 

For local biker Aisha Khalifa who just got married, the virus and the heavy schedule during the summer meant she would be stuck in Goa. She however intended to go out on her bike for long rides, time permitting. 

The virus has been very frustrating for sports fans like Conrad Barreto. He said “I was supposed to attend the Liverpool trophy parade last year but thanks to the virus, I could not go and the parade was cancelled. I visit two or three countries every year but his time this surge in the number of cases has meant that I will be stuck in Goa. I will not travel to any other part of the world or move domestically. I will stay put in Goa”. 

Another inveterate traveler is Siddharth Mehta who has deals in white goods. He travels internationally every summer but this year will move around domestically. He said “We have to adjust to the situation and decide where one can go to after checking the situation on the ground. I visited Kashmir recently and life was normal. The show I suppose has to go on.” 

Earnest Dias VP Kuoni Travels said he was shocked to not see any sops being followed at airports or in Kashmir the place he had visited recently. He said it was full of domestic tourists who were not wearing a mask or following social distancing. 

That may not be good news for anyone. Perhaps the first half of this year will be similar to the last year and it will be prudent to stay at home. One can only hope the second half will be a time of greater prospects.