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Goa will impose a "strict, state-level" curfew, from May 9 to May 23, to counter rising Covid-19 cases, Chief Minister <keyword id="864632" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pramod-Sawant">Pramod Sawant</keyword> said on Friday. Stores selling essential items, and grocery stores will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Medical stores will also be functional, Sawant said, adding that restaurant kitchens will be allowed to stay open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Travel and <keyword id="2634382" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tourism-stakeholders">tourism stakeholders</keyword> in Goa have urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to impose an immediate <keyword id="91743" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown">lockdown</keyword> for 21 days in the state due to the "ferocity" of the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to avert further loss of life. In a letter to Sawant, the <keyword id="175493" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel-and-Tourism-Association-of-Goa">Travel and Tourism Association of Goa</keyword> (<keyword id="160006" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="TTAG">TTAG</keyword>), which comprises stakeholders of the two industries has also urged Sawant to make a Covid-19 negative certificate mandatory for those entering Goa. "From our own experience last year, we know that it was your brave decision of implementing the total lockdown that actually helped us in controlling the virus from spreading. This time around, we have concentrated more on the economic revival and livelihoods and rightly so, as an unprecedented number of our citizens have been reduced to poverty due to job and income loss," the TTAG said in the letter. "This has resulted in them being robbed of their dignity and self worth.However considering the ferocity of the pandemic which was unable to be predicted the situation calls for an urgent and immediate lockdown," it also said. The <keyword id="6356105" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="association">Association</keyword> has however urged Sawant to give a five-day notice, before announcing a lockdown. "While we appreciate the various measures taken by the state administration to overcome the crisis, it appears that measures like partial lockdowns and restrictions are not showing the desired results and there is a growing concern in the minds of the citizens of Goa," the letter also said, adding that a lockdown would stabilise the increasing number of Covid cases, fatalities and give the health industry workers and the overworked health infrastructure a breather. In its list of suggestions, the TTAG has also urged Sawant to make a Covid-19 negative test mandatory for entering Goa. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/yes-bank-shares-are-cheaper-than-what-they-were-a-year-ago-and-what-could-revive-the-investment-if-at-all/articleshow/82448509.cms">Yes Bank shares are cheaper than what they were a year ago — and what could revive the investment, if at all</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/heres-why-zomato-is-reportedly-cutting-a-300-million-cheque-for-grofers/articleshow/82450062.cms">Here’s why Zomato is reportedly cutting a $300 million cheque for Grofers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/there-will-be-three-flights-from-india-to-australia-starting-may-15-for-the-estimated-9000-people-looking-to-return/articleshow/82450220.cms">There will be three flights from India to Australia starting May 15 for the estimated 9,000 people looking to return</a>

Goa to impose state level curfew from May 9 to May 23, says CM

First International cruise ship 'Viking Mars' on Wednesday arrived in the coastal state of <keyword id="826" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="goa" source="Orion">Goa</keyword> with around 650 passengers and other crew members. Docked at the international cruise berth of Mormugao Port Authority, the cruise is scheduled to halt for a day in the coastal state. Mormugao BJP MLA <keyword id="183632" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sankalp-amonkar" source="Orion">Sankalp Amonkar</keyword>, after welcoming the tourists in the traditional way, said that the arrival of an international cruise will help the economy of the state. "It will help all stakeholders of the tourist area, not only from my constituency but also from others where these tourists visit," he said. He said that tourism activities had gone standstill due to the COVID pandemic, but now things are improving. "People faced loss during COVID, but now it seems there will be good business as tourists have started to come," he said. <keyword id="3606029" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="amonkar" source="Orion">Amonkar</keyword> said that such international cruises should stay in Goa for a longer duration so the tourists can explore Goa. "I have placed my demand that cruises should stay here for a longer duration and not only for one day. Tourists love to visit Goa and hence they should be given more time to travel here," he said. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President <keyword id="45076" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nilesh-shah" source="Orion">Nilesh Shah</keyword> told IANS that it is a good sign for tourism that international cruises have started to arrive in Goa. "I think things are improving and more tourists will arrive in Goa," he said. <keyword id="1858" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shah" source="Orion">Shah</keyword> said that this will help hotels, taxi drivers, ecotourism and other stakeholders to get the business. He said that cruise operators could think of increasing the time for stay in Goa, provided Port charges are minimised and economical transport service is provided. "We will have to give them more facilities at the port and a proper environment will have to be created. Only then cruise operators can think of increasing timing," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/delhis-aqi-improves-to-moderate-category-with-176-aqi-today/articleshow/95549297.cms">Delhi's AQI improves to 'moderate' category with 176 AQI today</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/icici-venture-funds-invests-360-crore-in-houseware-brand-cello-world/articleshow/95552460.cms">ICICI Venture Funds invests ₹360 crore in houseware brand Cello World</a>

First International cruise 'Viking Mars' arrives in Goa with 650 passengers onboard

Facing uncertainty over charter flights coming to Goa due to the Russia-Ukraine war and visa issues, the tourism sector in Goa has focused on domestic tourists, with the hope of a revival. As the coastal state's tourism sector is predominantly dependent on the United Kingdom and Russia, and some parts of Europe, Goa is facing difficulties this season to woo them due to the war in Europe and visa related issue with the UK. In 2019, about 71,27,000 domestic tourists arrived in Goa, while 9,31,000 were foreign tourists. But this number dropped in 2020 and 2021 as the Covid pandemic struck the coastal state. This number came down further to a mere 3 lakh domestic tourists and 32,000 foreign tourists. Around 80,000 to 90,000 people from Russia come to Goa for holidaying every year, while around 50,000 people from UK also prefer Goa. Now when the Covid pandemic is subsiding and the state had hopes that high spending foreign tourists will arrive in Goa, the war between Russia and <keyword id="6355101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ukraine" source="Orion">Ukraine</keyword> has dashed the hope. Sources at Goa airport informed that some flights from Russia were cancelled which were scheduled for October. "Yes, some flights from Russia are cancelled. However we have hopes that from November things will improve," an officer said on condition of anonymity. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Nilesh Shah told IANS that because of the war between Russia and Ukraine bookings have come down and cancellations have also happened. "However people from Russia are willing to come Goa. From November three charter flights (per week) will arrive in Goa," Shah said. "We have got feedback that they (Russians) are willing to come to Goa, though there are restrictions in their country," he said. Speaking about UK tourists, Shah said that if the visa issue gets resolved as assured by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant then it will be good for the tourism industry. "From November one flight from UK will arrive in Goa every week. If the UK visa issue is resolved then the flights will increase from 1 to 5. They may increase even more," Shah said. "The last two years have been bad, compared to that this is a good start. We are hopeful that things will improve. But our focus will be on domestic tourists as they will come to Goa," he added. He said that if the visa issue gets resolved then the number of tourists from the UK will go up from December and January. According to Goa Forward president and MLA Vijai Sardesai earlier 35 to 40 per cent tourists from Russia used to arrive in Goa every year. But now due to the Russia and <keyword id="2088696" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ukraine-war" source="Orion">Ukraine war</keyword> these tourists will not come. "Hence now we need to fill this space from England," he said. Sardesai claimed that the state will face a loss of Rs 500 crore if tourists from the United Kingdom don't arrive on account of hindrances in getting a visa. Sardesai had said earlier that Goa is facing cancellation of 7 to 8 bookings per day in small and medium hotels, due to the new visa restriction by the Ministry of External Affairs, where British tourists have to seek a visa from nine centres (Visa Processing) in England. "This (lifting restriction) is important because in Goa annually minimum 40,000 to 50,000 tourists arrive from the UK. As per statistics of pre pandemic period each tourist spends around Rs 98,000, which means around a Rs 500 crore turnover takes place from this area," Sardesai had said. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Union Home Ministry has given an assurance to resolve the issue of the United Kingdom visas as soon as possible. "I have discussed UK visa issue with Home Minister Amit Shah. It will be sorted out soon. There were some foreign ministry related issues, hence it was getting delayed. But he has assured to resolve it as soon as possible," Sawant said. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had also said during the last assembly session that Goa is predominately dependent on two markets, UK and Russia, and some parts of Europe. "Today predominately we are dependent on two markets, UK and Russia, and some parts of Europe. Are we on the right track? Are we looking at the same tourists coming in? How do we look at domestic tourists coming in? For this we need to see how we go ahead," Khaunte had said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/indias-forex-reserve-declined-due-to-dollar-appreciation-fm/articleshow/94872555.cms" style="">India's forex reserve declined due to dollar appreciation: FM</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/us-offer-to-help-india-in-chip-manufacturing-just-lip-service-china/articleshow/94882797.cms" style="">US offer to help India in chip manufacturing just lip service: China</a>

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Goa to impose state level curfew from May 9 to May 23, says CM

IANS

First International cruise 'Viking Mars' arrives in Goa with 650 passengers onboard

IANS

Ukraine war casts shadow over Goa's tourism season

IANS

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