On World Tourism Day, Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, outlines Goa’s plans and initiatives for the near future
How does the Goa government plan to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need for sustainable practices, especially in light of environmental concerns?
Goa is committed to promoting Regenerative Tourism, the first state in India, which goes beyond mere sustainability. Our focus is on the 3 pillars – people, environment and economy; and through our engagement the aim is to restore and rejuvenate our natural ecosystems and communities. We are encouraging sustainable accommodation, especially in the hinterlands and are strongly promoting local homestays and providing incentives through our homestay policy. Additionally, we are supporting community-based tourism that empowers locals while preserving Goa’s unique heritage and environment.
What steps are being taken to manage the number of tourists while ensuring the quality of experience for both tourists and locals?
Goa is blessed with a continued increase in the number of tourists, every year. While the same is always welcomed our objective is quality over quantity and creating opportunities for high-yield tourism in Goa. The ‘Goa beyond Beaches’ initiative sustainably disburses tourist footfalls away from the coast into the hinterlands. To reduce the tourism peaks, we are promoting off season tourism such as monsoon tourism in Goa. Tourism has 7 focus areas, which allows us to funnel in tourists for different verticals. Through our spiritual tourism initiative like ‘Ekadash Teerth’ tourists have the opportunity to explore 11 iconic temples of Goa which further enhances the ‘Goa Beyond Beaches’ initiatives.
What measures is the government taking to regulate taxi services and improve public transportation options?
The Government of Goa ensures that tourist entry points are properly facilitated with transport options and taxi counters. Furthermore, keeping in tune with time, the government has adopted technology to provide tourists and locals the option to book taxis through an app. For example the Goa Taxi App provides ideas, regulated and convenient transport options at the tip of one’s fingers. Moreover, in densely visited tourist circuits, we have deployed the Hop on Hop off buses which provide tourists the ease of exploring Goa on their schedule, at a very low cost.
How is the government addressing issue regarding cleanliness and waste management in tourist areas?
Goa has a coastline of 103 kilometres which are frequented by tourists and locals and the government takes great efforts in keeping these beaches clean; including the deployment of beach cleaning services, tourist wardens to supervise and we also work with locally established stakeholders to ensure that our beaches remain clean. In pursuit of adopting technology, we have deployed the Beach Vigil App which is open to the public and allows anyone to report any issues on the beach including unclean areas. The app is linked to multiple stakeholders including the Department of Tourism, Beach Cleaning Services, the Police, and others to ensure there is a proper audit and action mechanism.
What is the government doing to improve infrastructure in less-explored areas of Goa to promote hinterland tourism while maintaining the state’s rich heritage?
Goa Tourism independently and in coordination with the centre have been deploying various infrastructure projects in the state. Under the earlier programs such a ‘Swadesh Darshan’ various infrastructure from toilet blocks to changing rooms were constructed in the state. In continuation with ‘Swadesh Darshan 2.0’, the aim is to revitalise coastal and hinterland circuits with necessary infrastructure and amenities needed for tourists to explore Goa sustainably. We also have ingenious ways of augmenting inventory for example, the promotion of homestays in rural Goa allows us to use existing infrastructure for tourism. These promotions greatly benefit the women in rural Goa, as they are the ones running such homestays; and by providing them with incentives they get an opportunity to earn their livelihoods. Lastly, Goa has easy road connectivity to explore ‘Goa beyond Beaches.’
How are you encouraging responsible tourism among visitors, especially in terms of reducing their environmental footprint and respecting local culture?
Through our Regenerative Tourism campaign, we focus on 3 pillars: environment, people and economy. We have various social media and PR campaigns to educate tourists on eco-friendly practices, like minimising waste and conserving water. We also work with operators and ensure that they implement guidelines on sustainable and respectful behaviour, and we are emphasising the concept of Regenerative Tourism. Through our regular communication we focus on Responsible Tourism practises.
How is the government balancing tourism growth with the need to preserve Goa’s historical and cultural landmarks?
Heritage is not only tangible, but also intangible. Like the Aguada Jail Museum which are is one of our tangible assets, we respect giving due importance to our freedom fighters. Collaborations with heritage experts and local communities ensure tourism development respects and preserves our architectural and cultural heritage. Initiatives like heritage walks and cultural festivals showcase Goa’s rich history and traditions. When it comes to intangible assets, we focus on our local festivals and culinary tourism, which is rooted in our heritage. We have also inducted cultural and heritage experts on the Goa Tourism Board.
How is the government addressing the issue of attracting quality tourists who contribute meaningfully to the local economy?
We have signed up with companies like Airbnb, MakeMyTrip, Fly91, MasterCard and All India Institute of Ayurveda. We are focusing on promoting high-value tourism experiences like wellness retreats, eco-tourism, and cultural experiences that attract discerning travellers through our different initiatives. We are partnering with luxury and niche travel agencies to promote Goa as a destination for quality tourism rather than mass tourism, such as through our MoU with Mastercard Priceless, which brings discerning high spending travellers to Goa.
What are the key elements of the government’s long-term tourism policy, especially in light of global shifts towards more eco-conscious and community-based tourism?
Tourism brings people together. As part of the Goa Tourism Policy, one of the pillars is spiritual heritage and through that we are promoting sustainable tourism. This paves the way for creating employment opportunities, and strengthens local economies. Tourists today prefer experiential tourism and hence our long-term policy prioritises cultural tourism and local experiences. Through our Regenerative Tourism framework, we are enhancing our focus areas such as wellness, adventure, and heritage tourism to reduce dependence on beach tourism alone.
What initiatives are in place to promote hinterland tourism while ensuring its sustainability?
We are promoting hinterland as well as eco-tourism circuits, where the focus is mainly on homestays, and the ancillary tourism experiences around these homestays such as guided tours; wildlife experiences to explore flora and fauna; local cuisine, and rural experiences. We promote community-based tourism, ensuring minimal environmental impact and maximum community benefit.
How is the government leveraging technology to enhance the overall tourism experience and address challenges like transparency, booking systems, and waste management?
The government, as already stated earlier, has adopted technology in various aspects from reporting any issues on beaches via the Beach Vigil App, to providing transport services on taxi booking apps. Goa also has a Goa 360 platform which has around 100 VR experiences of Goa which a tourist can engage with before stepping into the state, allowing them to plan a memorable trip.
What message would you like to convey to tourists and stakeholders on World Tourism Day, considering the current challenges and future aspirations of Goa’s tourism industry?
On this World Tourism Day, we celebrate tourism’s potential to foster peace, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. Goa is committed to Regenerative Tourism − tourism that respects and revitaliszes our environment and communities. Let’s travel responsibly and work together to preserve our heritage, support our local communities, and protect our natural landscapes for future generations. Together, we can build a tourism model that nurtures and sustains.
