Panaji: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday said Goa is strengthening its position as a strong global gateway destination by attracting international tourists through enhanced air connectivity.
Khaunte said the state is targeting new international markets such as Poland, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, among other emerging destinations, in addition to its traditional markets of the UK and Russia.
He said that, on average, a foreign tourist spends nine nights in Goa, compared to three to four nights for a domestic tourist.
“Our objective is to convert Goa’s strong global recall into tourist arrivals, increase visitor engagement, encourage longer stays, and ensure economic benefits for local communities. We are also advocating improved visa facilitation and stronger international connectivity,” Khaunte said.
In January, the state government launched a Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for inbound international charter flights, offering targeted financial incentives to inbound tour operators based on actual operational performance, measured through arriving international passenger numbers and load factors.
“We have initiated the process with the Union government to further strengthen and expand air connectivity through Goa’s two airports,” Khaunte said on the sidelines of a tourism conclave.
Goa’s hotel inventory continues to grow, particularly in the four-star and five-star segments, though demand still exceeds supply, he said.
“We are encouraging investments in MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), wedding tourism, cultural tourism and related infrastructure. The goal is to create a partnership where the government provides the vision and private stakeholders help execute it,” he said.
Asked about public transport for tourists, Khaunte said Goa’s tourism sector has evolved significantly since the 1960s, benefiting local communities, and there could be a few exceptions than the norm that are highlighted in the age of social and digital media.
“Traditional fishermen in the state entered the water sports sector, locals joined the taxi business, and tourism grew organically over decades. As tourism evolves, we are balancing technological transformation with inclusiveness so that local communities continue to benefit,” he said.
“While every tourist destination has its own challenges, we are seized of the issue and, in the days to come, we will see change,” he said, assuring a transition towards technology-driven and transparent solutions.
