Panaji: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday said that the enhanced flight connectivity and e-visa regulations, as announced in the Union Budget, will benefit Goa’s tourism sector in a big way.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Monday, Khaunte said that e-visa facilities will help the arrival of international travellers to India and, eventually, to Goa.
Pointing out the modified UDAN scheme, which boosts regional connectivity, Khaunte said that the announcement will help increase footfalls and aid in the recovery of the shortfall of tourists post-COVID-19.
Welcoming the Union Budget, Khaunte said that it reaffirms the Government of India’s commitment to various sectors. “In a major way, this budget will accelerate the country’s march towards Viksit Bharat 2047,” he added.
The tourism minister said that initiatives like MUDRA loans, enhanced connectivity, e-visa, and forms of wellness tourism, spiritual tourism, and skilling will help the sector grow further.
He said that his department has been closely monitoring the employment opportunities for locals in the hospitality sector. “These initiatives will also help in attaining the goal of employment for locals in the tourism sector,” Khaunte said.
Khaunte said that the initiative of spiritual tourism gels well with the Goa government’s ambition of promoting Goa beyond beaches. He added that the promotion of home stays is also an aspect of spiritual tourism, for which the state has already announced its policy.
He also said that there is a lot of scope for medical tourism in the state.