The
Goa Tourism Minister, Manohar Ajgaonkar, has on Wednesday announced that the
coastal state would be open to tourists July 2, 2020 onwards, as almost 250
hotels have been granted permission to resume operations.
It is important to mention here that the
Goa is the one of the most sought-after tourist destinations of the country.
And, it has remained shut for travelers since the nationwide
coronavirus-induced lockdown was imposed in March. The decision to restart tourism activities was
taken during a state cabinet meeting, the minister said. The tourism department
has so far granted permission to 250 hotels, which can operate in keeping with
the standard operating procedures (SOPs) put in place by the state government.
"We have decided to allow domestic
travellers to enter Goa from July 2 onwards provided they comply with certain
norms," the minister said. It will be mandatory for tourists to pre-book
their stay at hotels, which have received the tourism department's approval, he
said.
Ajgaonkar said that the hotels and home
stays that were not registered with the department to reopen business would not
be allowed to entertain guests or offer online bookings. He said, “In addition,
the tourists would either have to carry COVID-19 negative certificates to enter
the state, or will have to get tested at the border and undergo quarantine at a
state-run facility till their results arrive”. The Minister added, “Those
tested positive will be given the option of returning their respective states
or staying back in Goa for treatment”.