The staff at night clubs and restaurants seems happier and more confident of themselves. The reason is very obvious for all to see. It has to be said the music is still ringing in the ears hours after the music was switched off. Yes, Goa seems to have regained a bit of its mojo in terms of its night life. The restaurants and the night clubs seem to be heaving again. People are eating out and dancing more. The domestic tourist is coming in larger numbers. And as corporate India gets more comfortable with working from home more executives are moving to Goa. And yes, they are partying on weekends. It seems like the good old days are back. But is it? What will the long term repercussions be of such actions? Remember, the virus is still around us. Yes, the vaccine is around but the virus is still spreading amongst the population.
David De Souza the man behind Titos said business had certainly improved and he was maintaining control on the situation by insisting everyone follow the protocols put in place by the government. He said “When they are eating and drinking they take off their face mask but that cannot be avoided. Our staff follows the protocols. We are careful. ” Speaking about the large number of domestic tourists who were in Goa, he said most of them were just driving around and not entering his outlet. Speaking about long term repercussions, he said everyone had to follow the protocols to avoid any problems in the future.
Sean Thapa of Comida Caseira Restaurant said he was worried about the long term repercussions because it could either the Mumbai and Delhi way which was very bad. He felt it was very important for people to follow the protocols if they went out to a restaurant or to a night club. He said “The crowds have been remarkable and we have to take care. I am sure business has been good but one has to take care of one’s health. ”
Some like Anuj Poddar of Pizza Delizia have taken extreme care to ensure the paying public has a comfortable time. He said “We have a Latin night every Thursday which is very well attended. It was sold out last week. On Saturday we have a classical and jazz night. Largely an expat crowd, it is a very relaxed affair. We have around 12,000 sq mtrs and we have 40 tables. So there is more than adequate space for everyone. We are aware of the consequences if we don’t take care. We have to all take care of ourselves. It is a pity others don’t seem to be doing so. One has to only see people on the hilltop partying into the early hours of the next day. They don’t seem to care about the consequences of their actions. The crowds number in the thousands. ”
Greg Furtado of Cohiba and Favela said people are fed up of sitting at home. Goa tourism was undoubtedly booming with new outlets opening up and new brands from Mumbai setting up shop in the state but the only way to continue with the good times would be to take care. He said “We can only do what is in our hands. We have our hand santisers used extensively but people have to maintain social distancing. Business is improving but with regards to the future everyone has to take responsibility”.
Sheldon Abranches of Hideaway Restaurant said the people were all in a unique predicament with everyone having been holed up at home for six months. He said “People took the very first opportunity to step out. They can’t be blamed but with regards to our guests we take adequate precaution. We have limited capacity and we are very responsible. We have a capacity of 150 but that has been reduced to 75. We have a lot of people coming in everyday. We ensure they follow the protocols. We try to make it safe for the staff and the guests. With regards to the long term consequences, I will not be able to predict but I will say that I will do my bit and ensure people coming to my outlet will remain safe.”
Ruchir Goenka of Barsa Spanish Tapas Bar and Boutique Stay said one had to accept the virus was here and would not go away very soon. He said “The guests will keep coming and it is on the onus of the restaurants and the night spots and the guests to follow the protocols to ensure it will be an enjoyable experience. We do all that, we do our bit”.
It could be said everyone will have to do their bit to ensure the long term repercussion are not deadly. History has shown us that pandemics leave but they leave after exacting a heavy price.
