VIBHA VERMA
vibha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The ascending graph of COVID-19 cases pan-India besides fear of Omicron variant has once again caused anxiousness for those in the hospitality industry with tourists cancelling their advance booking and hotel room reservations.
The cancellations follow months after the State regained pre-COVID-19 footfalls. Fortunately, the charter operations from Kazaksthan and Russia are uninterrupted, while season’s first charter from United Kingdom is expected to land with around 300 passengers on January 28.
The stakeholders however differ in their opinion over continuing with tourism in the midst of COVID-19 explosion.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has expressed concern over the current scenario but is also optimistic that the situation will be back to normal by mid-February.
“We have recorded 10-15 percent cancellations in the bookings. Rise in COVID-19 cases and different SOPs in many States have made them apprehensive about continuing with their vacation. We are however hopeful that the current rise in COVID-19 cases will drop and situation will be back to normal by mid-February,” TTAG President Nilesh Shah told Herald.
The tourism and hospitality sectors were amongst the worst affected during the first and second wave of COVID-19. Drop in cases whilst huge vaccinating
population led to recovery and Goa opened its doors for tourists even before the official onset of the season in October.
Unprecedented domestic arrivals salvaged the livelihood of thousands solely dependent on this business. Charter operations also resumed 22 months after inbound tourism was halted.
Shah said several budgeted stakeholders rely on charter visitors. “Many budgeted hotels, guest houses and other accommodation facilities opened to cater charter tourists. Their livelihood will be at stake if charters stop,” Shah added.
He conceded that an impressive response from holidayers salvaged the crisis-stricken tourism industry. While other States are imposing restrictions, TTAG urged that government should not impose night curfew rather emphasise on COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.
However, another major player in the tourism industry has sought for night curfew. Hotelier and President of the Goa Restaurants and Hotels Association Gaurish Dhond stated that the State need to gear up instead of waiting for an explosion of COVID-19 cases.
“There has been a lot of cancellation in the hotel room bookings as well as events… Government has taken the right decision to impose restrictions and I believe night curfew should also be imposed… We can recover the losses. But we can’t let third wave to explode,” he said.
Dhond, who is also the Chairman – Goa at Indian Red Cross Society, further advised political leaders to stop holding rallies, public meetings or events that brings in a lot of crowd. “The COVID-19 virus spreads in the air. We need to take precautions,” he said adding that being a COVID-19 warrior he has witnessed deaths and sufferings owing to the pandemic.
Meanwhile, another charter flight from Russia is likely to arrive with 522 passengers on January 9 and weekly three flights from Kazakhstan, carrying 180 passengers in each, are running as announced. Shah said that the frequency of these flights and capacity are not likely to increase in the wake of the present situation.
