Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday informed the legislative meeting that the state authorities was engaged on introducing a scheme for these international locations or airline corporations that usher in high-spending international tourists. He additionally mentioned that every one the lodges and visitor homes within the state should compulsorily add the info of their company on the ‘TIME’ (tourism data administration enterprises) software program beginning April 1.
Khaunte was responding to a query tabled by Revolutionary Goans Social gathering (RGP) MLA Viresh Borkar, which led different members, together with Chief of Opposition Yuri Alemao and Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas, to ask supplementary questions associated to the tourism sector. In his elaborate reply, Khaunte mentioned, “The pattern of tourists has modified and we’ve got to vary accordingly. That’s the reason, we’re selling the idea of Goa past seashores.”
The tourism division was pondering ahead and dealing on having a worldwide outreach catching on the worldwide traits, he added. Khaunte mentioned the division needs to introduce airways incentives schemes which can be relevant solely to these international locations or airline corporations that usher in high-spending worldwide vacationers. The division was attempting to reinforce the tourism sector via direct flight connectivity, he mentioned. “Goa homes two airports that present good connectivity to travellers. We wish extra FTAs (international vacationer arrivals) within the state,” Khaunte mentioned. Lately, the state authorities representatives met Union Civil Aviation Minister (Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu), throughout which the necessity to discover prospects of open sky coverage was mentioned, he mentioned. The state authorities was already working with the Centre to implement the e-visa coverage within the state, he mentioned. Responding to Borkar’s query on the info of vacationers spending within the state, Khaunte mentioned from April 1 onwards, all of the lodges and visitor homes should compulsorily load the details about vacationers on the TIME software program. The division has been requesting the lodges and visitor homes to do the identical for the final two years, however now it will be made necessary, he mentioned.
Speaking about final yr’s alleged damaging marketing campaign suggesting a decline in vacationer arrivals to Goa, Khaunte mentioned the factual place was removed from that. “Narratives have been created concerning the decline in tourism in Goa, however if you happen to undergo the info of October, November and December (2024), we had 100 per cent occupancy in lodges,” he mentioned. In line with the minister, contemplating the room tariffs and the speed at which they have been booked, the division was certain that the pattern of high quality over amount in Goa tourism had began.
The home vacationer arrival was greater by 22 per cent final yr as in comparison with the yr in the past interval, whereas there was a 3 per cent rise in worldwide arrivals. Khaunte informed the Home that every one this whereas Goa was relying on solely two international locations – UK and Russia – for worldwide vacationer arrivals. “However we at the moment we’re speaking about Poland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and different international locations from the place vacationers are arriving,” he added.
