In Goa, the Omicron variant shatters hopes of tourism recovery
Calangute beach during the Covid-19 pandemic in Goa state, India on December 30, 2021. Since Omicron's arrival, a curfew has been imposed in the area and holidaymakers have deserted its famous beaches.
REUTERS - STAFF
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The Indian government had launched free visas to boost tourism, but health restrictions such as curfews have slowed the arrival of international travelers.
Report in Goa.
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With our special correspondent in Goa,
Côme Bastin
Along the beach, empty deckchairs stretch as far as the eye can see.
Among the few souls who still bathe, Félix Médioni, 33 years old.
“
With my girlfriend, we expected to find a lot of people and party,
he testifies.
Unfortunately we had the impression of landing in a country devastated by three years of complete inactivity.
It's still a luxury to be on an empty beach on the other side of the world.
»
Félix and his companion benefited from the
free visa
launched by the government last June to revive tourism in India. But since the arrival of the Omicron variant, a curfew has been declared in Goa and holidaymakers have deserted. In this seaside state whose economy depends 40% on the tourist sector, this is the third season in a row marred by the pandemic.
“
We took out a loan of 100,000 euros from a bank and mortgaged our house,
is in despair Shanti Kumar, hotel manager.
We had invested in a new building hoping that the pandemic would end.
International flights were supposed to resume, but no one came.
I am sad for the poorest workers who survive on 100 euros a month.
»
In 2020, the number of foreign tourists to India fell to 3 million from 12 before the pandemic.
The figures for 2021 do not look any better, when the sector weighed for 10% of the country's GDP.
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To read also: Covid-19: faced with the explosion of cases, New Delhi confines itself over the weekend
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India
Tourism
Coronavirus