Panaji: The Goa Tourism department on Tuesday released its Home stay and Caravan policies in the state aiming to give experience of beyond beaches to the tourists arriving in the coastal state.
State chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant in presence of Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte released both the policies which announces incentives for the home stays and also those creating infrastructure for parking of the caravans.
Briefing mediapersons after releasing the policies, Sawant said that Home stay policy will benefit people living in the talukas like Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona, Sattari, Bicholim and Pernem.
He said that the policy also gives scope for the women entrepreneurs as the aim is to take tourists to hinterlands of the state.
“We have noticed that tourists like to stay in the hinterland specially during the rainy season,” he said.
Sawant said that same is the case with Caravan policy which will help the travelers to explore Goa in a better way.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said that when tourists visit the rural areas, they understand the culture of the state, heritage and also experience the cuisine.
“The tourists start exploring what they have not explored in the past,” Khaunte said adding that both these policies will be in force for five years,”
The tourism minister said that the first hundred home stays can enjoy incentives like grant of Rs two lakh to upgrade their infrastructure.
He said that the under the policy, the home stays are given additional incentives like charging of electricity and water tariff on line with the domestic connections, waiving of registration fee and others.
Khaunte said that the department will also provide hi-speed internet for these home stays so that the digital nomads who would like to take the advantage of these facilities can do so.
He said that Goa tourism will support the home stays through its website.
Speaking about Caravan policy, he said that the amenities would be created in beach belt for parking of caravans. Also in the rural areas, such parking facilities would be created so that tourists can enjoy the lush green forests.
He said that Rs 20 lakh would be provided as a subsidy to create the infrastructure for caravan parking under this policy.
