In what could bring relief to tourists visiting Goa, poll authorities here on Monday allowed restaurants with attached bars to remain open after 11 p.m. but they can't serve liquor after the deadline.
"The only condition is that the bar section of the restaurant should be closed after 11 p.m. The restaurant can continue to serve food, but liquor should not be served after the deadline," Chief Electoral Officer for Goa Kunal told reporters on Monday.
Bars and restaurants were ordered to close at 11 p.m. in Goa by the district administration, when the Model Code of Conduct was enforced in the poll-bound state on January 4.
According to President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Savio Messias, the decision had caused a lot of inconvenience to tourists, especially those arriving in late-night flights.
"We had made a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer, requesting that the 11 p.m. closing time for restaurants be extended, as this would cause a lot of inconvenience to tourists arriving by late night flights/charters," Messias said.
Goa is one of the top beach and nightlife tourism state in the country and attracts more than four million tourists annually. The state will go to polls on February 4.
--IANS
maya/lok/dg
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