Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa’s Tourism Industry suffered a loss of over Rs 2,000 crore during the COVID-19 pandemic enforced lockdown, while the potential loss for the season is pegged at Rs 7,200 crore, Minister for Tourism Manohar Ajgaonkar told the House during the recently concluded Assembly session.
Minister also said that the job losses were to the tune of 58 per cent on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Responding to a question tabled by Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai, Ajgaonkar admitted before the State Assembly that the tourism sector has been badly affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ajgaonkar said that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had conducted a State-wise survey through KPMG Consultant to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Goa Tourism Industry.
“As per the Survey the overall loss of earnings in Tourism Industry during lockdown has been estimated at Rs 2,062 crore. Potential loss of earnings for the 2020-21 season will be Rs 7,239 crore,” he said.
“The potential job cuts will be 1.22 lakh, which is approximately 58 per cent,” he added.
The Minister said that as a part of relief, the Tourism Department has extended the validity of all tourism licences for the year 2020-21 without insisting any of the NOCs/Permissions from all the other authorities on payment of the prescribed fees.
Also the government has granted 50 per cent reduction/waiver in fees for renewal of beach shacks and placement of deck beds to the shack allottees, he added.
Ajgaonkar said that the government has come up with alternate arrangements in the light of the pandemic to ensure that Goa becomes a leading tourist destination once the international flights resume on a regular basis.
The Minister further said that in recognition of the safety standards adopted, the State has obtained a World Travel and Tourism Council Stamp which has boosted the travelers’ confidence and trust in Goa and its tourism products and has resulted in the gradual and steady increase in flow of tourists in the State.
