Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SD)

Panaji, Jun 30: Given the current coronavirus situation, restarting tourist activities would not be possible, Michael Lobo, minister for science and technology stated. The coastal state and one of the prime destinations for beach holidays won't allow tourists in the month of July.

"If the Covid situation does not improve, we can't get tourists," the minister said. He stressed on the non-possibility as, in a normal situation, most of the domestic tourists would hail from Delhi and Gurgaon.

The cities are major zones of coronavirus outbreak in the country. "Most flights come to Goa from Mumbai and Delhi. Even if the tourists are from elsewhere, their connecting flight to Goa is from Mumbai or Delhi," he said.

As Mumbai and Delhi are the worst hit unless the flight services resume in those cities, Goa state cannot expect much business from tourism as well, he said.

As the state of Goa gets its maximum revenue from the tourism sector, the chief minister had announced that tourism would resume soon in the state. However, given the current situation, it is most likely to remain shut.

Goa was declared a green zone as the whole state had eradicated, but lately, cases seemed to rise and currently, the state has 1,198 confirmed cases which is increasing with every passing day.