Goa to face loss of Rs 500 cr if UK tourists don't visit, says MLA Sardesai

Panaji: Goa Forward Party (GFP) President and MLA Vijai Sardesai said the state will suffer a loss of Rs 500 cr if tourists from the UK do not visit. He appealed to the BJP government to relax visa conditions.

He said: "I want to appeal to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the visa restrictions. We can come together and meet the PM over the issue."

The opposition member said Goa is facing cancellation of 7 to 8 bookings per day in small and medium hotels, due to new visa restrictions by the Ministry of External Affairs. Currently, British tourists have to seek a visa from nine processing centres in England.

As per pre-pandemic statistics, Goa annually receives 40,000-50,000 tourists from the UK and each of them spends around Rs 98,000. Sardesai noted that this means around Rs 500 cr turnover comes from this sector. He added that the state government gets 10% GST which amounts to Rs 50 cr.

"Government will lose this Rs 50 cr if visa restrictions are not relaxed," said Sardesai. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had earlier suggested that e-visa be provided for the state to get the same flow of people.

Sardesai further noted that the Russia-Ukraine war has also affected tourism in the small coastal state. "Earlier 35-40% of tourists used to come from Russia. This space also needs to be filled by tourists from England."