The government of Goa has decided to welcome all domestic tourists to the state irrespective of Covid-19 status. This step is in alignment with the latest order from the government of India, wherein the Union Home Secretary had requested to drop all inter and intra state travel restrictions.
The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant has made an announcement on Monday saying that the state is completely letting go of all Covid testing and checking for Covid-19 negative certificates from tourists. According to a report, Goa has dropped all travel restrictions to the state starting on the 1st of September.
This announcement makes Goa one of the first states of the country to reopen fully for domestic tourists post the Covid-19 pandemic. It also serves as a ray of hope for all the people engaged in tourism sector. People working in the allied sectors like transportation and hospitality can also celebrate this announcement.
Previous Standard Operating Procedure issued by the state government included proper testing or verification of Covid-19 certified by an ICMR recognized laboratory.
The Tourism industry is the worst hit sector of economy worldwide. Majority of the Goan economy is also dependent on domestic and foreign tourists visiting the state. A large number of people employed by this sector has host their income completely or partially.
However the continuously rising number of positive cases in the country is a matter of great concern.
