PANJIM: The unrestricted movement of people across the State border and reopening of bars has brought cheer to tourism stakeholders who have been eagerly waiting for revival of the industry amidst the ongoing pandemic.
The development ahead of the annual tourist season, slated to commence from October, has come as a major relief for the stakeholders who have been grappling with carrying forward their business in the midst of the pandemic-induced lockdown and restrictions.
“It is a welcome move as Goa has been following MHA guidelines throughout and I think it is high time the economy opens up. Tourism had not started in Goa due to the restrictions unlike another tourism destination Rajasthan that started unrestricted inter-State movement a month ago. Lots of business which would have come to Goa has gone to other States that lifted the restrictions,” Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Nilesh Shah told Herald.
He, however, insisted that travellers, including locals, follow norms and guidelines for health safety. “If we have decided that we have to do business with COVID-19 for a few months or a year, it is a good move in the right direction while all precautions need to be taken,” he added.
TTAG’s immediate past president Savio Messias supported the view stating it was the need of the hour. “It is a welcome decision. It was long awaited,” he said, citing Rajasthan’s early resumption of the tourism industry.
He added that the State needs to improve its testing for the virus. “But we have to improve on our testing system. It has been a failure. Results have to be out soon and the charges were too high, while efficiency was very low,” he opined.
With the resumption of tourism, the hotels that have been waiting to find customers will now get business. Shah suggested that the government also consider hotels, which had not registered with Tourism Department for following necessary precautions as per the SOPs, for carrying out their businesses.
TTAG members have also hailed government’s decision on the reopening of the bars. “We wanted bars to be opened long time ago. It was delayed but finally open. It is a welcome sign,” Shah said.
“I think it is a good forward move. This is what we were asking for quite some time. This is in a positive way, when all verticals of economy are opening and I think bars opening will be help tourism in a big way,” Messias said.
The All Goa Bar and Restaurant Association, which had been persistently pursuing with the government for the reopening of bars has also welcomed the decision of the government. Association president Michael Carrasco told Herald, “We would like to thank the government of Goa for taking this decision. All other pending issues in our previous memorandum should be looked into such as license fees to be charged not as per the area, AC and non AC to be treated as one, etc.”
