wellness Tourism Industry had mushroomed in the state of Goa due to the huge foreign tourist footfalls, and they are the rich clients to the wellness industry in Goa, but due to the Covid Pandemic there are no foreigners coming down to Goa this year and that had hit one of the most lucrative and flourishing industry in the state.
Until the Covid situation prevails there will be no foreign tourists coming to Goa due to various restrictions and non availability of the international flights. There are many businesses in Goa flourishes due to presence of foreigners but this year the case seems to be different.
According to the report published by the TOI, there are hundreds of Ayurvedic and Holistic treatments have mushroomed across the beach belts of the state and to capitalise on the foreign tourists but this year the Pandemic has severely hit the major foreign countries like UK, USA Russia and other countries due to which there is no scope of foreign tourists coming down to Goa this year.
The glowing coastal belts of Goa during the season time is lying faded the year due to no movement of tourists. According to the reports there are more chances that the individuals and businesses may not setup their shops this year for want of foreign tourists who constitute their main client base.
The Charter season is also on the verge to fading off over due to the pandemic-induced restrictions, the few centres that remained functional through the year may also cease operations.
Although there are no foreign tourists flocking in Goa this year but the flow of domestic tourists is consistent and that may become the target clients of some of the establishment that have set up on the permanent basis in Goa.
After being shut for the past six months, Devaaya at Divar, a pioneer in exclusive ayurvedic and naturopathy services, for instance, has been converted into a retreat for Indian tourists.
“The decision was taken purely from a survival point of view as ayurvedic services alone will not find favour with domestic tourists,” said Victor Albuquerque, chairman and MD of Alcon Victor Group, shortly after the facility on the island village was renamed Mercure Goa Devaaya Retreat.
A majority of its guests were European and mostly comprised women who, as repeat visitors, would reside at the centre for around seven days to even a month.
“However, a number of guests cancelled bookings after they learnt that no liquor and non-vegetarian food would be served,” he said, adding that more changes are being made to the property to accommodate these demands.
Dr Vijayan from Kerala, who conducted a thriving business in Canacona for over a decade by providing seasonal ayurvedic services, mostly to Russian and European clients, said he has decided not to open his facility this tourism season.
“I will not be able to afford to operate the facility with only a few Indian guests. I will have to wait till the next season,” he rued.
A tourism trader in North Goa who did not want to be named, said that though genuine players have been badly hit, a positive aspect of the fallout is that a number of quacks who routinely set up similar centres during the season will have to exit the business.
(The Original Article was written by Bindiya Chari for the Time of India)
