COLVA: South Goa’s popular Colva
beach
wears a deserted look these days due to a stark absence of tourists. At any point of time this beach attracts thousands domestic
tourists
as well as
foreigners
, but on Monday morning one could count the number of tourists on the beach; fivc in the waters while a few more on the shore.
On most days this beach starts getting crowded as early as 8.30am. However, given the current situation with the outbreak of
corona
virus, some domestic tourists are not even bothering to check into hotels but are seen with their bags and backpacks on the shore or in the waters or taking selfies.
Miransha Naik, owner of Blue Corner shack and beach huts at
Benaulim
beach, says the business losses are above of 90% since the beginning of March. “Majority of my guests are foreigners, all have cancelled their bookings and it is a huge blow.”
Another shack owner, Roger Fernandes, said it is disaster this season, beginning with permissions which were granted as late as December instead of October last year, and now with almost two and half months remaining for Goa’s holiday season, shack owners have no guests. “After shacks actually started operating for the season, there was news of the collapse of charter companies, Thomas Cook and Cox & Kings which added to our woes. There was almost a 30% drop in tourists and that too at the peak of the season,” Fernandes said, adding that in the afternoons 20-25 tables at his restaurant are occupied, but these days he feels lucky if he has four tables occupied.
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