Panaji, March 13 (IANS): Tourism activity should take a backseat during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Friday.

When asked about what message he would like to send across to tourists, the Health Minister of Goa, one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country said: "Sit at home".

"This is not the time for tourism... Sit at home," Rane said, soon after the BJP-led coalition government in Goa On Friday invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to beef up efforts to combat the coronavirus threat.

"The whole of Europe is in shutdown. What tourism are you talking about? If you give me a free ticket to Mumbai, I will say, you go, I will not go," Rane also told the press conference, describing the viral pandemic as a "tsunami" like scenario.

Goa is considered one of the leading beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country and attracted more than seven million tourists last year. The state is currently facing a dip in tourist footfalls on account of the global viral pandemic.