Panaji: With the work from Goa culture picking up in a big way, the coastal state is poised to be the creative capital of India, State Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said.
Addressing a side event during the G20 Tourism Working group meeting near Panaji on Monday, Khaunte said that Tourism plays a vital role in Goa’s economy by contributing to employment generation and boosting sectors such as hospitality, transportation, handicrafts, and agriculture.
“The development of tourism infrastructure has the potential to create more job opportunities for the local population, leading to socioeconomic growth in the state,” he said.
Khaunte said that while our state have a recorded population of 1.5 to 1.8 million people, estimates have 10 times that people living in Goa – so Goa is a preferred destination as a second home.
“We see a big culture of “Work From Goa” and Goa is thus poised to be the “Creative Capital of India”,” he said.
The minister said that in Goa, the Tourism initiatives are directed by the Goa
Tourism Board which is the first of its kind in India, with an equal representation of members from the tourism industry and the government.
Khaunte said that Goa’s tourism department have been actively engaging public and private stakeholder as part of “hardcore, serious business” efforts at the recently concluded trade events in Portugal, Germany, and the UAE.
“By leveraging these collaborations, and more through this G20 session, Goa aims to enhance its tourism offerings and create unique opportunities for visitors from around the world,” he added.
The minister said that the G20, as an influential platform for global cooperation and decision-making, offers us a unique opportunity to shape the future of tourism for the betterment of our planet.
