As India gears up to enter the fifth phase of lockdown inducted by COVID-19, Centre along with the state governments are constantly working out ways to reopen the economy, which has been massively impacted due to COVID-19 lockdown.
Among the slew of suggestion given by the states, a few of them have demanded further graded opening up of the tourism and hospitality sector.
The economies of States and Union Territories such as Puducherry, Kerala, Goa, etc and some North-eastern states are heavily dependent on tourism and hospitality, which is yet to get relaxation from lockdown restrictions.
Reportedly, for lockdown 5.0, the Centre is exploring ways to fulfil the demand of opening hotels, restaurants, beaches, etc. It is expected that the Union Government may come up with more relaxations which will kick start economic activities in these states.
“Those states which rely on tourism and hospitality are still struggling and these States have demanded to ease out rules for such sectors. It is expected that lockdown 5.0 may get a breather for the tourism and hospitality industry,” a senior government official told ANI.
“States have suggested ways to open hotel, restaurants, tourism, etc by limiting the number of visitors and also maintaining mandatory social distancing. States have said that they can allow dine-in facilities with a limited number of sitting capacity, temperature check of visitors and Aarogya Setu App must for all visitors. States have requested Centre that through this, they can augment revenue collections required to run the state,” official added.
For the fifth-phase, the government is focusing and planning a road map to further ease out norms which will give the required economic push. However, a detailed discussion is on and the Centre is yet to take a final decision.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday (29th May) said that he spoke to Home Minister Amit Shah on the phone and has requested for further extension of lockdown for more 15 days.
However, the Goa CM has demanded that there should be some relaxations wherein the restaurants should be allowed to function with social distancing at 50 per cent capacity.
In another development, Bengaluru’s hotels are likely to open in June if the State government issues guidelines for the resumption of their services.
