Panaji: Aiming at boosting hinterland tourism, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday proposed tax holiday in form of 50% rebate on state GST, exemption in stamp duty and registration, waiver in other processing charges to investors who set up at least three star category or above hotel or hospital in the hinterland talukas of Bicholim, Sanguem,
Canacona, Quepem, Dharbandora, Ponda and Sattari, in his budget speech 2025-26.
To provide a fillip to the tourism sector, Sawant has announced budgetary allocation of Rs 440.98 crore for Goa’s tourism.
He announced facilities like development of wayside amenities, integrating Goa’s taxi services into a digital platform by registering them on an app aggregator, creation of a facility for organisation of music concerts and large gatherings to be designed as plug and play model, enhancement of cruise tourism, an oceanarium, and development of caravan parks, among others.
Sawant announced that the new jetty terminal will be thrown open by June 1, 2025 and the work on the mini convention centre will be completed by December 2026.
He also announced that a new aero-tourism initiative is proposed at Quitol, featuring skydiving, drone park, aero sports, motorised paragliding, hot air ballooning and aerobatic flights.
Sawant announced a tourism ambassador programme aimed at empowering Goans as advocates of responsible
tourism and equipping them with essential skills for the evolving tourism industry.
Sawant also announced that tourism projects worth over Rs 255 crore will take off from the financial year 2025-26.
“For all tourism-related infrastructure, my government will provide all the infrastructure support such as electricity, water and sewerage connections through a single window mechanism,” he said.
