Panaji: Goa Tourism Minister Rohan A. Khaunte on Monday met Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the national capital and sought the Centre’s support for measures aimed at strengthening the coastal state’s domestic and international air connectivity.
During the meeting, Khaunte proposed extending the Visa-on-Arrival facility to both Manohar International Airport at Mopa and Goa International Airport at Dabolim to make international travel to the state more convenient, according to an official statement.
The minister also urged the Centre to extend Open Sky policy benefits to Goa to encourage more international airline operations and improve direct connectivity with overseas markets.
The two leaders discussed increasing flight capacity on key domestic routes connecting Goa with major Indian cities to support year-round tourism in the state.
Khaunte also requested the Union Government to designate Goa as a Point of Call for priority international markets, particularly Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), to facilitate direct international air connectivity and tap into new tourism source markets.
Speaking after the meeting, Khaunte said enhanced domestic and international connectivity, improved ease of travel, and stronger destination promotion were essential as Goa transitions towards a high-value, year-round tourism model.
He said the state has diversified beyond beach tourism and now offers wellness, heritage, culture, adventure, MICE, and regenerative tourism experiences.
The meeting also focused on aligning Goa’s long-term tourism strategy with the Centre’s national tourism priorities and strengthening the state’s position as a leading global tourism destination, the statement added.
