Panaji: Goa tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said that the state government will announce the spiritual tourism circuit within a month.
Talking to reporters after chairing empowered committee meeting in Panaji, Khaunte said that after COVID-19, the tourism sector has realized that the tourists are looking for “spirituality, immersive and new experiences.”
Khaunte said that the tourism department has started making changes in promotion of the sector with the inclusion of spirituality, eco tourism, wellness and homestay as a part of it.
The minister said that the state government has already signed a non-commercial MoU with the “Temple Connect” program. He said that the state government will announce the spiritual tourism circuits in the state within a month.
“The stress is on rural tourism,” Khaunte said.
The minister said that Goa is already connected with two tier cities including Dehradun, Guwahati, Nagpur, Nasik, Amritsar, Kashi and Varanasi through newly commissioned Manohar International Airport in North Goa.
He said that more cities are being connected at MIA.
Khaunte said that the connectivity to place like Dehruadun has helped in linking Uttar Kashi and Dakshin Kashi due to which there is lot of exchange of domestic and international tourists.
He said that the state tourism department will also hold a day-long conclave on spiritual tourism in the next month.
Khaunte said that there are talks about the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “The chief minister want Shivjayanti to be celebrated in a major way. Tourism department will organize the main festival. We will also support the organization of event in six cities,” he added.
Goa government is also working on the event to commemorate opening of Ayodhya Temple scheduled in January, 2024.
