03 Jul 2020  |   05:44am IST

Hotels stay closed as SOP released late evening

Industry welcomes decision but remains cautious of re-opening
Hotels stay closed as SOP released late evening

Team Herald


PANJIM: The absence of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was the main deterrent to hotel operators resuming business from Thursday despite the State government opening its doors to domestic tourists. The SOP was released late Thursday evening.

“The SOP listing out steps to be taken while carrying out operations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is not uploaded on the website (till Thursday evening). We are ready to restart business and it is the need of the hour,” President of All Goa Hotels and Restaurant Association Gaurish Dhond told Herald. 

Around 260 hotels that had registered with the Tourism Department have been granted permission to operate. However, with this delay, the association expects to get back to business from Monday onwards. 

“Although permission has been granted, we need to complete the formalities before starting the operations,” Dhond said. Tourism Department has assured to release the SOP at the earliest. 

The hospitality industry, however, remains cautious about reopening. Area Director Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), Goa, Vincent Ramos believes it is good news for Goa as there has to be balance between lives and livelihood. “If proper protocols and SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) are followed, then there is no worry,” Ramos said. 

He added, “There are a lot of stakeholders who are dependent on the hotel business, whether they are suppliers, vendors, taxi operators and even musicians, who suffered a lot during this period. Hence, it is a very good and welcome decision,” Ramos said.



Elsewhere, the Head of Planet Hollywood Inc India and General Manager of Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Goa, Anand Chatterjee also welcomed the decision. However, he highlighted that the business will only run when there are tourists. “The inflow of guests will start after the flight schedules stabilise. However, it’s a Catch-22 situation. The entire world wants to come to Goa but it brings along the fear of spike in coronavirus cases. The faster and more prevalent testing at ports of entry; and even at the hotels and resorts, through approved testing centres will bring in ease of detection and cure,” Chatterjee said.

Others in the industry were also excited at the prospect of re-opening. Vice-President Operations of Hard Rock Hotel in Goa, Vikas Sharma said, “We are excited to resume operations yet anxious as well as the earlier adventure seeker, is today a cautious backpacker. Keeping this in mind, we have elevated our operational protocols in accordance with the local authorities and rolled out our ‘Safe and Sound’ Program to ensure that guests have a stress-free and high-vibe holiday.”

Vice-President of Whispering Palms, which is located in Candolim, Jacob John also welcomed the decision. “The most important is to follow the SOPs because the element of building trust is required among all our patrons and guests. However, the issue here is travel logistics, which is not going to open up in the near future till there is some respite from the surge in COVID-19 cases. The reopening is basically a message to the world that Goa is ready to welcome tourists. Yes, there is an opportunity to generate some revenue at least,” John said.

Another tourism stakeholder, Shivjee Singh who runs four budget hotels - Windsor Bay, Carisma, Goa Continental and Hans Hotel in Calangute and Baga belt, is a worried man. “All my hotels are on lease-rent and I have to pay rent along with electricity bills amounting to nearly Rs 50 lakh. There are no tourists and nearly all hotels in this belt are closed. In fact, it is better to close it down than pay huge rents without any business. All my hotels are ready but there are no takers. In fact, I would be up and running only when at least 10 rooms are occupied,” Singh lamented. 

There are those who have decided not to open at this point as well. 

General Manager of Sandalwood Hotel in Dona Paula, Kamran was clear saying that they are not going to open the hotel as it is not feasible. “It is too costly now to operate a hotel with empty rooms. Also, most of our staff have gone back home and without the staff it is impossible to operate,” said Kamran.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar had announced that the industry in the State will re-open for Indian travellers from July 2 but with conditions such as pre-booking of only those hotels, which are approved by the Tourism Department. 

The visitors/tourists will either have to carry COVID-19 negative certificate along with them while entering Goa; and in its absence, they have to get themselves tested at the border and wait in paid quarantine facility till their results are conveyed to them. 


IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar