PANJIM: Nearly 75 per cent of restaurants and hotels did not reopen for business although the lockdown relaxed restrictions on malls, restaurants, hotels and places of worship from June 8. Some starred hotels from three star and above are likely to resume operations post-September.
Lack of labour, as a majority of the employees hailed from different states and have now migrated, and the high expenditure on resumption of services, has been a major setback for the commercial establishments.
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“Not even 25 per cent restaurants and hotels have opened for business today (Monday). They have no staff because the workers have migrated back to their native places during the lockdown. Certain others have preferred to remain closed because if they resume their expenses would be higher compared to the business they will get with limited staff and almost no customers,” All Goa Hotel & Restaurant Association president Gaurish Dhond told Herald.
Many hotels and restaurants in the Capital wore a deserted look, however, some continue to offer take away and deliveries to customers since the lockdown relaxations last month.
One of Goa’s oldest restaurant’s Café Bhonsle preferred to deliver and takeaways. Milind Bhonsle partner said, “We have decided not to reopen the restaurant but continue with takeaways as of now. We are studying the new norms and SOPs and we will take a call after eight days when to open the restaurant.”
Some restaurants did see visitors wherein social distancing and masks among the staff and visitors was clearly evident as a part of precaution.
On the other hand, Navtara, one of the largest chain of restaurants opened four of its branches which included Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Margao Bus Stand. Managing partner Aditya Tavora said, “We have opened four branches and in a month’s time will be able to open all ten restaurants. Business is very slow and on the first day of reopening hardly 25 per cent customers came in. We have the SOPs in place and all four restaurants were fully sanitised before opening up.”
Others were hoping that bars could be opened as that would bring in more customers. Partner in ‘Temptation’, Miramar, Tony Almeida said, “In the first half we were busy sanitising the entire restaurant. We will open up in the evening but I do not see business coming in unless bars open up. In restaurant business these days bars are a must. I am sure once the bar is allowed to open we will get good number of customers. We only expect takeaways to happen.”
Wilson De Souza, owner of River Isle in Ribandar was of the view that since it opened in the beginning of the week, people may not come in. “We are closed on Monday anyways. People still fear visiting restaurants and mostly takeaways will work for us as of now. Without the bar opening the business will be hit.”
Nearly three months since the COVID-19 induced lockdown was imposed, hotels, bars and restaurants have been shut. The eateries were allowed to operate in lockdown 3.0 relaxation with permission to only run their take away and delivery services.
With no tourists due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown, expensive hotels are not in favour of resuming operations anytime before October, when the tourism season begins. “They will mostly resume businesses after September,” Dhond said.
Malls also reopened but there were very few customers. The managements of the respective malls, however, ensured all precautionary measures such as wearing of masks, use of sanitiser before entering the malls, social distancing, etc.
Meanwhile, most hotels in Margao remained closed on the first day after reopening as they faced shortage of staff. The hoteliers said they will not open their hotels till the work force which has left for to their native place returns and said they will accept only take away orders.
