This story is from July 4, 2020

Restarted tourism after pressure from stakeholders: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that there was a lot of pressure from tourism stakeholders to start the tourism industry and the government acceded to their demand as it is an economic activity. ​
Restarted tourism after pressure from stakeholders: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Goa CM Pramod Sawant (ANI photo)
PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that there was a lot of pressure from tourism stakeholders to start the tourism industry and the government acceded to their demand as it is an economic activity.
Speaking to reporters, Sawant said that as other economic activities had started in Goa, the stakeholders wanted that tourism should also follow suit.

“Foreign tourists will not arrive in Goa as international flights are yet to resume,” he said.
He also said that interstate movement has been allowed across the country.
“At present, Goans require employment and there was immense pressure from tourism stakeholders to restart the sector. After considering all the aspects and putting standard operating procedures in place, we have started the tourism industry,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was the first to tell TOI that the government will start tourism activities in the state in the month of July. Science and technology minister Michael Lobo had opposed resumption of tourism activities in July in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the state.

With the state government allowing hotels to restart operations and accept bookings for tourists, BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade on Friday said that the government must have taken this decision based on the Centre’s Unlock 2 guidelines.
Replying to a question if Sawant had consulted the party before taking the decision to open tourism, Tanavade said, “It is a government decision, and it must have taken based on the economic activities that have commenced across the country after Unlock 2 guidelines were announced. And that must have been the reason to start tourism in Goa. The government must have given it a serious thought, and accordingly a decision must have been taken.”
He also said that although flights have started, there are hardly any passengers. “There were demands that flights should begin, but today 50% of the flights are being cancelled. Everybody has become health conscious and people are worried about their well-being,” Tanavade said.
He also said that restaurants are open in Goa, but there are very few customers.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA