Panaji: Goa is open for tourists from today and around 250 hotels have been permitted to start operations. These establishments, which had applied to the government signalling their readiness to start, will only be allowed to accept guests with prior bookings.
According to State Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, “Economically, we are in a bad shape.” He said tourists who wish to enter the state need to pre-book themselves and should be tested for the coronavirus at most 48 hours prior to their arrival.
Those who have not tested themselves for the virus should be willing to get tested and may only leave the hotel premises if they test negative, he added.
Ajagonkar said on Wednesday: “The hotels will be allowed to start from tomorrow. Those who want to travel to Goa can do so. Hotel booking should be done prior to travelling to the state and with a hotel that has been allowed to reopen. Without booking tourists will not be allowed. At the entry point we will check if they are tested 48 hours prior. If not, the tourist will be sent to a hotel, where he will be tested. And once the test is negative, the tourist will be allowed to move out.”