NT NETWORK

Candolim

Crippled by the second wave of the COVID pandemic the tourism industry wants to start the hospitality industry by July 15 and the All Goa Hotels General Managers Association held a
meeting in Calangute in this regard.

At the meeting it was discussed to hand over a memorandum to the Chief Minister requesting him to start the hospitality industry latest by July which provides the highest number of jobs in Goa.

Speaking to this daily the general Manager of Goan Heritage Alfred Fernandes told this daily that a meeting was held in his hotel by the All Goa Hotel General Managers Association and it was discussed to start the tourism industry by July 1st.

He said, we are going to hand over a memorandum to the chief minister requesting him to start the industry as most of the people in Goa will be vaccinated by then.

During the meeting a suggestion was made to employ strict vigilance on beaches and public places for COVID safe behaviour and
penal action for the defaulters. All stakeholders in the tourism industry will follow structured and strict SOPs for safe tourism.

The association also took a decision that all tourism stakeholders such as taxi drivers, restaurant operators, event personnel, wellness employees, adventure tourism workers to be vaccinated as soon as possible by June 31. This will cover more than 70% of the population of Goa.

Another hotelier John Jacob of Whispering Palms said that his hotel is getting calls from his cliental enquiring when tourism will start in Goa. Many tourists are waiting to come to Goa as they feel Goa is safe and there is a lot of night life in the state.

Suraj Morajkar owner of Hotel Hilton said that during the COVID pandemic tourists are still coming into the state as illegal tourism is going on in the beach belt.

TTGA president Nilesh Shah said that foreign tourists are expected in November as India has still not opened up its border. If the third wave strikes then there will be a delay.

The best option is to get everyone vaccinated.