Goa braces for an adverse tourism season

Famous for its incredible beaches and landscapes, infused with the Portuguese culture, the little State of Goa is pure joy. Tourism fuels Goa’s economy. As claimed by the State’s Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, Goa attracts around eight million tourists every year. The tourism has ensured the mushrooming of beach shacks, backpacker hostels, and hotels near every beach in Goa.

The nationwide coronavirus lockdown has impacted those whose income solely depends on hosting tourists. Manuel Cardozo, President of Traditional Shack Owners’ Association recently remarked that the current tourism season is the worst ever, and all those involved in the tourist industry are suffering.

Diksha Khanolkar, founder of Aerostel, a backpacker hostel in Goa told Sakal Times that it might take months for her business to revive. “Even after the lockdown is lifted, it will take a long time for people to feel safe about staying in shared accommodations.”

Goa Tourism department, in an effort to overcome the crisis, wants to introduce a financial package for the shack owners, hostellers, and others who are dependent on tourism so that they can restart their business.

“The department has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking help for the tourism industry from the Prime Minister’s relief fund for COVID-19. How much fund is required for it has to be decided by a panel of experts? We have formed a committee headed by state finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar to study it. We will have to work out a plan to get out of this crisis,” Ajgaonkar told PTI.

Goa Tourism department has also started undertaking an online survey to identify the needs of the tourism industry in the wave of the coronavirus crisis.

Goa Tourism is currently undertaking a survey to identify the needs of the tourism industry in the wave of the Corona virus crisis.
If you work in the tourism sector in Goa, share your issues, concerns and ideas.
To participate click on the link: https://t.co/tynXwJlCML pic.twitter.com/KKLhm4EB4R

— Goa Tourism (@TourismGoa) April 29, 2020

Khanolkar also voiced her concern for people whose only source of income is through tourism and believes they need to be creative and venture into new avenues to endure these adverse times. “Unless they start venturing out to other avenues, it’s going to be difficult. You have to be creative and use the space available to get some source of income, probably by delivering food or renting out the available space,” she said.

“Our focus currently is on delivering food and once the lockdown is over, to open up our restaurant with safe-distanced tables,” she added.

Henderson Clemente, owner of Uberlife Rooms Lake View in Goa, has managed to pocket finances during these stressful times. He rented out his rooms to foreign tourists who haven’t gone back to their homeland on a monthly basis. “We are renting out our space so that we can earn some money since there isn’t a lot of income coming in for us,” tells Clemente. 

Even though Goa has been declared COVID-19 free, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is in favour of the lockdown 3.0. During this time, tourism establishments will need to improvise and remodel their business to come out of this crisis victoriously. In a statement, the Goa Tourism department had requested all tourism-related stakeholders to utilise this opportunity to partner with the State and help build a suitable recovery plan for the State’s soul, the tourism sector.