Casino and hotel owners in India request rebates

As the country enters “Unlock 4.0”, casinos and bars are still not allowed to open.

India.- As India enters for fourth stage of its post-lockdown reoening, casinos and hotels asking for rebates as they remain unable to open.

Tourism has been heavily hit in Goa and Sikkim, the two states in India where gambling is legal in restricted hubs.

The Indian Wire reports that hoteliers in Goa are now demanding rebates in income tax.

Shrinivas Nayak, owner of Pride Casino and a five-star hotel said: “With all indoor entertainment activities closed, the tourists will find it hard to spend time here. Why would anybody fly from Delhi to Goa to spend evening watching TV in the hotel room? The casinos and cruise ships are the icons of Goa”.

He said that even when casinos and pubs are allowed to reopen, it will take time for tourists to return and for revenues to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Praveen Vashist, Director Operations at The Park Baga River, said to India Today: “Last month there was an occupancy of 10-15 per cent, and this month it is likely to cross 25 per cent. We hope that the government eases the travel restrictions and allows the bars to open so that more tourists can come to Goa.”

Currently, to enter Goa tourists must pay for a rapid coronavirus test, present a negative certificate no older than 48 hours or go through 14-day home quarantine.

India meanwhile is debating a new law to regulate casinos.