Goa's heat and humidity are detrimental to spread of coronavirus, according to Ports Minister Michael Lobo. "Right now we are doing better than before, because people can't travel to Thailand, China, Italy and other destinations. They are coming to Goa pushing the number of Indian tourists up," Lobo said on 4 March.
“As far as Goa was concerned, it is safe from Coronavirus. In this weather, I don't think the virus can spread; and nothing would stop tourists from coming here”, he added when the Goa travel and tourism industry had expressed worry of a possible dip in arrivals after the global coronavirus scare.
Goa, the top beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country, received more than seven million tourists last year. Nearly half a million of them were foreigners.
Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. Its long history as a Portuguese colony prior to 1961 is evident in its preserved 17th-century churches and the area’s tropical spice plantations. Goa is also known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to those in laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda.
