Foreign tourists will start arriving in October: Michael Lobo

Panaji: Foreign tourists will start arriving in Goa from the month of October, this year, onwards, a senior minister said.

State Ports Minister Michael Lobo, who also owns business in hospitality sector, said that the Chartered flights have already started booking slots at Dabolim airport in Goa from October onwards to arrive with the tourists.

State currently has around 1,000 foreigners who are either stranded or continued holidaying during the lockdown and unlocking period.

Lobo, who represents Calangute Assembly constituency in North Goa, said that the tourists from European countries and also Russia have started booking their trip to Goa.

Goa is known for its beaches.

Lobo said “considering the current scenarion, it will take 6-8 months for the tourism sector to revive.”

“And it will take 12 to 14 months for Goa to regain the number of footfalls it was receiving prior to the lockdown,” he said.

Lobo said that he is of the opinion that current ban on the operation of bards which has been continuing since the lockdown period should be lifted.

“We have allowed Restaurants to open. So, we should also allow the bars to operate by maintaining social distancing,” he said.