Drop in Goa's tourism prospects due to Coronavirus scare, says Tourism Official

worldwide panic surrounding coronavirus outbreak has impacted tourism prospects of Goa, state Tourism Director Meni D'Souza said on Friday. However, he said that currently, he is unable to prove in figures, impact of epidemic on tourism footfalls in  state.

"That (footfalls impacted), I cant say offhand, but it has affected, re is doubt about it," D'Souza told reporters on sidelines of a tourism event in state capital.

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official also said that Goa government was planning to invite Chinese travel and tour operators to coastal state, with aim to use China's outbound tourism market, but Coronavirus has put an end to those plans at moment. 

"We recently h a proposal for bringing down tour operators from China. We h to cancel that because we did t want to take any risk," D'Souza said.

D'Souza also said that coronavirus suspects were being carefully screened in a joint effort by state tourism and health departments in Goa. state is following each visory and precaution to curb spre of dely virus. 

smallest state, Goa is one of leing beach and nightlife destinations in India. coastal state attracted more than seven million tourists in 2019.

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Chinese delegation's visit on hold

A Chinese delegation's visit to Goa has been put on hold by tourism industry stakeholders in view of vel coronavirus outbreak in neighbouring country.

delegation, comprising photographers, models, online and offline booking experts, and marketing strategists from China, was supposed to arrive in Goa on Sunday But, ir visit has been w put on hold in view of present situation following outbreak of coronavirus in China. delegation was part of a marketing strategy planned by Goa tourism industry stakeholders to attract visitors from China. 

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