Team Herald
canacona: As the world economy has entered an unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry, which drove the economy of Canacona taluka since the last 2 decades has suffered a major setback.
Local stakeholders hope the government will come to their rescue with a financial assistance similar to the mining package offered to the mining dependents.
Canacona, the popular tourist destination because of its serene beaches, has been hosting thousands of tourists, both domestic as well as foreign for decades.
Stakeholders reiterate that always brings in a lot of prosperity to the local community.
They roughly estimate that usually, there are over two thousand rooms providing temporary accommodations on the beaches of Palolem, Agonda and Patnem alone.
They add that the tourism sector be it accommodation, restaurants, taxis and all other ancillary activities adds at least Rs 300 crore to the economy of Canacona taluka each season.
With the season ending much earlier and there being little hope of any recovery of their investments, stakeholders are left wondering and worried about the impact COVID-19 will have in the years to come.
“We have loans to repay; our creditors will come and sit on our head. How is the community going to cope with the total collapse of business?” asked a local stakeholder while listing out other problems they have to deal with.
“As of now our primary priority is to fight the COVID-19 pandemic but very few amongst us have the financial cushion to fight the financial crisis that will follow post COVID-19,” he added.
“All of us till now have paid crores of rupees in the form of various taxes and levies to the government and it is only fair on our part to ask the State and Central government for an economic package otherwise our brothers will be driven to commit suicide just like the farmers in neighbouring States” stated another distressed operator, while adding that this was the scenario across Goa and not just Canacona alone.
