Goa not opening for tourism until 100% coverage of 1st dose of vaccine

CM Pramod Sawant, who also met with industry stakeholders earlier this week, said any decision on opening the country to tourism would be made after July 31.

Prime Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said Goa will not open its doors to tourism until the country delivers at least the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to its residents. The government has set a deadline of July 31 for the same date. Goa not opening for tourism until 100% of 1st dose.

Speaking at a public event, the Prime Minister said, “In the past three days, we have held the third edition of Tika Utsav and more than 50,000 people have been vaccinated. Our goal is to complete the first dose 100% by July 31. Everyone over the age of 18 should go to receive the vaccine.

He said that the country could not yet open up to tourism because "we still have to take precautions. The positivity rate must go down to less than 5%...and the vaccination rate must go up."

The cabinet, which also met with industry stakeholders earlier this week, said any decisions regarding opening to tourism would be made after July 31. This puts an end to speculation within the state about how best to open up to tourism amid the pandemic. Goa not opening for tourism until 100% of 1st dose.

The Goa Tourism and Travel Association (TTAG), an industry body, suggested in its memo to Sawant, “Entry into Goa (at least) until October 2021 should be based on a mandatory RT-PCR test. o Antibody testing or vaccination certificate o Submission For quick tests when paying at the border control point or at the train or bus station. There should be no entry without the above procedures.”

First Deputy Minister and Tourism Minister Manohar Ajaunkar said only those who have been vaccinated can travel to the state.

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