Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that the brand new roadmap positions the coastal state as a 365-day vacation spot “beyond beaches” and {that a} new homestay coverage that goals to take vacationers into the guts of Goa and make them expertise its “actual traditions” is predicted to be applied in a month.
He additionally said in an interview with PTI that the purpose of “Goa Tourism 2.0” is to emphasise “quality over quantity” in addition to accountable and sustainable actions that respect the setting and are in line with native customs.
The brand new caravan coverage from Goa Tourism, in line with the minister, can also be anticipated to enter impact inside a month.
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“Goa has always been a preferred destination for tourists, known for its beautiful beaches, and we are known for our party life, more of a different culture. But Goa is much more than that… and unfortunately in the past, we have not been able to get that thought changed, that perception about Goa,” he mentioned.
Goa is about wealthy traditions, wealthy tradition, nice meals, nice folks, nice eco-tourism, a whole lot of alternatives for journey, and plenty of issues taking place. And, that’s why “we need to stitch things together,” he asserted.
“So, right now with the whole thought process of what Goa has been, when we talk of Goa for its beaches, its party life. Today, we move with the hashtag of #GoaBeyondBeaches, and Goa beyond beaches has been a thought process post-Covid, when we have realises that we need to look at tranquillity, immersiveness, and that exactly what tourists today are looking for,” Khaunte mentioned.
“We need to look at more of quality tourists coming in than the numbers. The number game has to stop, because tourism is the main vertical for the state. We need to ensure that it gives the right path to the economy and employment, and being a major churner of the industry in the state, we need to get our things right,” he mentioned.
Goa authorities has been speaking in the previous couple of months, of transferring the main target of the state’s tourism sector to areas reminiscent of spirituality and wellness, eco-tourism, rural tourism and way more, and never fixating on the concept of solar, sand and surf that Goa has historically been in style for.
“The new process of Goa tourism, I would say Goa tourism 2.0, has already started, which we today would like to include on a larger scale, rural tourism, eco-tourism and hinterland, and to stitch to that we have a path where we would like to include our various festivals, great traditions, great food, homestays, spirituality,” Khaunte mentioned.
Requested in regards to the homestay coverage, he mentioned it goes according to the brand new imaginative and prescient of ‘Goa beyond beaches’ and can let vacationers journey away from the coastal space and into the wealthy hinterland, he mentioned.
“This may take vacationers proper into the guts of Goa and make them expertise the precise traditions and tradition of Goa. This coverage will define 100 homes within the first part, situated solely in rural belt, areas reminiscent of Bicholim.
The coverage is predicted to be rolled out in a month’s time, together with the caravan coverage of the tourism division,” the minister mentioned, including, about 60 per cent land parcel in Goa within the rural belt.
Homestays may even enable folks to expertise the native tradition, traditions, festivals, delicacies and way more, he mentioned, including for this “we have signed an MoU with Airbnb”.
A prime official within the Goa tourism division mentioned Airbnb will present capability constructing, coaching for homeowners of such properties.
The brand new caravan coverage entails operators to run a leisure van, in order that one shouldn’t be constrained by itinerary as one is in a resort keep. It’ll additionally embody establishing caravan park the place the plan is to offer utilities, sanitation companies, car charging factors, and many others, the official mentioned.
Khaunte mentioned Goa has very outdated temples, church buildings, however its historical past is even richer.
“We have Saptakoteshwar Temple, waterfalls, we have many things. But, still there are many things to explore, many things to understand… And, to understand Goa in the right sense and the right flavour, and that’s exactly we are trying to position, Goa, as a 365-day destination, where one gets a personal feeling within the space, rejuvenation happens. It is no longer a seasonal tourism,” the minister mentioned.
Emphasising that Goa is also called ‘Parshuram Bhoomi’, he mentioned the tourism division has envisioned to create “a civil infrastructure” whereby inside there shall be numerous amenities, and which from exterior will appear like a bow, and which can find yourself on the seaside.
“As per the legend, Lord Parshuram had shot an arrow and it moved the sea away, from which ‘Goa’ had emerged,” he mentioned.
The minister mentioned about 10-15 acres of land on the seaside shall be wanted for this venture.
“It’s a thought. But, to make it happen, it’s not only through the state government, but will have to make it happen through Union ministries. And, we look forward to support from Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism. We are trying to get it executed under both the ministries together, as an ‘iconic destination’,” he added.
He additionally underlined that the ‘digital nomad’ fraternity is a rising tribe and “about 46 countries mapped under it”.
“These people (who want to work from home, away from home) need creative space and quality of space, and Goa gives this by default. This vision works for long haul, and we are trying to talk to the Centre to get digital nomad visa being issued for such tourists. If this visa thing gets cleared, we will start getting a new set of tourists on a long haul, they will complement homestay policy, contribute to economy, talent pool generation and capacity building,” he mentioned.
(With inputs from businesses)