COVID-19: Goa to seek Centre's help to revive tourism industry

The Goa tourism department will

seek financial help from the Centre for the industry stakeholders to overcome the crisis they are facing due to the coronavirus outbreak.

State Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, in an interview to PTI, said his department has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, seeking help for the tourism industry from the Prime Minister's relief fund for COVID-19.

"How much fund is required for it has to be decided by a panel of experts. We have formed a committee headed by state finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar to study it. We will have to work out a plan to get out of this crisis," he said.

Goa already has a tourism policy. The state wants to introduce a financial package for hoteliers, vendors, shack owners and others dependent on tourism so that they can restart their business, he said.

The minister further said the state government should not allow any tourists in the coastal state after the lockdown is lifted, unless they are certified ...