Team Herald
PANJIM: After taking a severe beating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants in Goa are set to resume from June 8 adhering to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. However, the hotel industry might take a few more days to resume operations.
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The Travel and Tourism Association (TTAG), an umbrella organisation of hospitality stakeholders, has also issued a detailed SOP for all industries in the sector in order to remain safe while conducting business. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced reopening of the permitted premises with social distancing and all preventive measures.
“Hoteliers and their employees are getting impatient with the lockdown. They feel that they have to survive in the long run, which can happen only if they restart. We are happy that the Government of India has come out with standard hygiene protocols that are industry specific. Having standard protocols makes it easier for small businesses to adopt. Also, tourists will be more comfortable knowing that hygiene protocols as approved, are being adopted by the industry,” TTAG president Nilesh Shah told Herald.
Shah said that TTAG as an association of the hospitality industry recently discussed the matter and members are in agreement that as and when the
government permits, those who wish to open should take their own decision. TTAG has also come out with detailed SOPs for all industry verticals including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, event organisations etc to further help the tourism industry in keeping the staff and tourists safe.
Shah admitted that the hotels and restaurants will face challenges once they restart. He added that the hotel industry, ‘as per our knowledge, may not be given an immediate go ahead on June 8, but will be allowed in the next few days with Goa government guidelines and SOPs for incoming tourists which to my information they are working on’.
“Though the hotel industry is waiting to reopen, all hotels may not open immediately in full swing for various reasons including, shortage of staff, fear of not breaking even and lack of full demand. The hotel industry restarting will give mental relief to a lot of people depending on tourism as things will gradually start normalising. The hoteliers and their employees are stressed out at present,” Shah, who recently took over from Savio Messias, added.
“The Health Department can be activated and look into whether the SOPs are followed by the industry. The industry will realise that greater the level of safety and hygiene they implement, higher the chances of the customer/tourist inflow gradually increasing. This will also give the hospitality staff comfort of their safety and help improve service to the guests. We can propose a certification from the industry body for maintaining best standards to ensure that norms are adhered to and give comfort to the tourists,” he said.
