Tourism Shut? Stakeholders raise eyebrows on ‘re-opening tourism’ after complete vaccination

PANJIM: Tourism stakeholder were left wondering on Tuesday after Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant’s statement that re-opening tourism or other activities would be considered after Goa’s entire population is vaccinated with at least one dose. Questions arose whether tourism was really shut.

Stakeholders Herald spoke to were attempting to understand what “re-opening of tourism” the Chief Minister was referring to.

“Government makes one statement and then changes it, and it’s going on. There are so many hotels open, although occupancy is not satisfactory. Nobody will stop the hotels. We are of the opinion that we need to go slow in opening up Goa (for tourists) and ensure that everything is in place because we have earned such a terrible name (leading to spurt in COVID-19 cases),” immediate past president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) Savio Messias told Herald. 

His predecessor Francisco Braganca conceded that the industry was never closed. “It may sound as contradictory at the outset as the industry was never shut,” he said. He assumes, referring to CM’s statement, that the latter intends to stress upon full vaccination to control spread of the pandemic. 

“No doubt if the government could fully vaccinate the State in a short while it would be an ideal situation. Perhaps he meant that only tourists who are vaccinated would be permitted to enter the State and that those involved in the tourism industry are also fully vaccinated. His statement could be understood in this sense,” Braganca added. 

It’s been a little over a month since tourism has been partly open as new spurt in coronavirus cases in the second wave forced the government to impose ‘curfew’ from May 9. 

Intra-state movement was restricted from April 29 to May 3 – first State-level curfew – and thereafter from May 9, inter-State travel became stringent only after the intervention of the High Court of Bombay at Goa. In its order on May 6, the court pulled up the State for not insisting on a COVID-19 negative certificate from people seeking to enter Goa. 

The government, left with no choice, complied with the direction but also ensured its move to curb COVID-19 cases does not put a full stop to the business. 

Booking of hotel rooms are open, restaurants are allowed take away services; food delivery partners are working and essential stores are functioning. Marriages have been allowed with conditions and several other activities are operational amidst the ongoing curfew.

Co-owner of a starred hotel in Canacona confirmed to Herald that his accommodation has not been closed even as curfew was imposed last month. However, the inflow of tourists is below average. 

“Our hotel’s room bookings are open till date. It’s a different story that visitors are minimal. We are ensuring they carry a negative certificate. CM’s statement did confuse my team because tourism is open although influx is not satisfactory for reasons we all are aware of,” he said, seeking anonymity.

Many hotels are functioning in similar manner in several other parts of Goa. TTAG president Nilesh Shah pointed out to the survival of the direct and indirect dependents on the tourism industry. He suggested resuming full-fledged tourism after working on image building of the State. In the last couple of months, Goa’s image as a safe destination took a major beating over a rise in COVID-19 cases due to uncontrolled inter-State movement and failure to ensure strict adherence of appropriate behaviour.   

“We have requested to allow people with RT-PCR negative certificate or those who are fully vaccinated or have anti-body certificate. If any of these are not followed, the visitor should be tested at the entry point. Government has to ensure COVID-19 appropriate behaviour among the tourists and install signages. Those violating the rule should be penalised,” Shah added. 

Messias further suggested re-opening Goa full-fledged from October only after systematic planning to shield Goa from the third wave. Before this, he proposed a marketing campaign to build confidence among the visitors that Goa is a safe tourist destination.