Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday (July 10) told the stakeholders that the state government will give focused push for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), Spiritual, sports-based and wellness tourism in the coastal state.
Sawant, chaired a high-level inter-departmental meeting with key stakeholders and representatives from the tourism industry at the Secretariat on Thursday, which was also co-chaired by State Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte.
Addressing the gathering, Sawant assured the stakeholders that the state government has taken serious note of the concerns raised by the tourism industry.
“Goa is already witnessing a positive influx of tourists, including during the ongoing monsoon season. We have heard from all the stakeholders – shack owners, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and tour operators about the problems,” he said.
The chief minister said that the key issues such as trade licence renewals, extended operational hours, infrastructure bottlenecks, and aviation connectivity will be addressed within the next month.
“We are committed to escalating matters such as visa-on-arrival for certain countries and international airline connectivity to the state through the Government of India and the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.
Sawant said that Goa’s tourism potential will be maximised through seamless coordination between departments, and our people will benefit through employment, upskilling, and access to a digital skill development portal.
The chief minister said “MICE tourism, spiritual and wellness tourism, and sports-based tourism will be given a focused push by the state government to ensure constant growth in the arrival of tourists.”
Sawant said that the plans were also shared to boost high-speed internet connectivity through the IT Department, streamline transport logistics, and enhance the visitor experience through a clean and green Goa initiative.
“The Government also intends to strengthen the single-window clearance mechanism and resolve long-pending issues related to GST, electricity, water supply, and road infrastructure,” he added.
State Tourism Minister Khaunte stressed for the inter-departmental collaboration and stakeholder synergy to ensure that the tourism industry progresses.
“Tourism is an industry that requires constant support and structured alignment with various departments from Panchayats to Police to Forest and beyond,” he said.
“We are competing with top global destinations, and it is imperative that Goa stays one step ahead. By focusing on ease of doing business and targeted intervention, we can enhance the quality of tourism, increase employment, and grow tourism in a responsible manner,” he said.
Chairman of GTDC, Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, expressed confidence in the government’s roadmap and the effectiveness of the consultative process “The concerns raised today have been noted with utmost seriousness. The Government is committed to delivering timely solutions. Within a month and a half, the industry will begin to see visible outcomes and tangible improvements across the board.”
The meeting was a follow-up to earlier deliberations held in January this year and underscored the government’s commitment to develop tourism in a holistic, responsible, and future-ready manner.
The Department of Tourism, under the guidance of the Hon’ble Minister and in coordination with all concerned departments, will soon initiate follow-up mechanisms to translate today’s outcomes into actionable reforms. Goa Tourism remains committed to promoting a cleaner, greener, safer and more inclusive tourism model for the State.
