INDIA: GOA Casino Director requests financial aid from New Delhi officials
The tourism industry is one of the most?heavily impacted?industries?by Covid-19 and badly needs to navigate the financial?hurdles it’s experiencing
A director of one of Goa’s largest floating casinos asked for a financial assistance from the government mainly to?reverse the slump?brought by COVID-19 for the local tourism and entertainment operators?in India.?
According to?Goa Chief Minister,?Pramod?Sawant, Goa’s casino operations?– including its six floating casinos on the?Mandovi?River –?have been put on halt since 15 March and revealed having no?intentions?for?reopening?anytime soon.?
Shrinivas?Naik has asked the government to help firms by ?granting them a three-year income tax holiday?and?a six-month waiver on business loan interest charges.??
The director of Casino Pride Goa,?Shrinivas?Naik, has?penned?a letter to the?officials of New Delhi,?drafting measures, stating that the?tourism industry?one of the most?heavily impacted?industries?by the Covid-19 and badly needs to navigate the financial?hurdles it’s experiencing. In line with this, he also asked the government to help firms by ?granting them a three-year income tax holiday?and?a six-month waiver on business loan interest charges.??
?“In order to reduce the overall cost of operations?and increase funds for disposal in the hands of the industry, the government should provide tax holidays for at least three years beginning from [from April 1].”?Said on?Naik’s?letter reported?from?the Indian gaming website?GLaws.?
Naik?also allegedly called on the government to?“allow the industry to pay minimum sustenance allowance to its employees during lockdown period and post lockdown period of six months,” and to?demand?any employees who have taken a salary during lockdown to remain with their employer for at least six months until April 2021.?
Other requests include presenting?operators with?free electricity and Internet access?for the next six months and?cover all employee pension contributions?for the duration of the nation’s?coronavirus-related lockdown.?
On April 15, 2020 in?PANAJI:?The?Casino industry?is among the many sectors that?have?offered help?to the Goa government in addressing?the?coronavirus situation in the country.?
?“We have supported 25 Georgian nationals by offering them accommodation and food after their Embassy requested for the same. They are safe in our accommodation. We will take care of them till they are in a position to fly back,’ said?the?Director of?Casino Pride Group,?Srinivas?Nayak, which owns two offshore vessels besides some onshore gaming places in the state, reported from the Business Insider India.
Shrinivas?Naik has asked the government to help firms by ?granting them a three-year income tax holiday?and?a six-month waiver on business loan interest charges.??
