Goa focuses on tech-driven tourist safety and a visitor-first approach
Goa Showcases Visionary Tourism Roadmap at the National Tourism Ministers’ Conference in Udaipur
“This is a strong start to the 2025–26 tourism season, and Goa continues to expand its international connectivity and diversify its tourism offerings.” – Rohan A. Khaunte.
Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa, Rohan A. Khaunte, represented Goa at the State and Union Territories Tourism Ministers’ Conference held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on October 14 and 15, 2025. The two-day national conference, organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, was attended by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism.
It aimed to bring together tourism ministers, secretaries, and senior officials from all states and union territories for a comprehensive dialogue on policy, strategy, and coordinated efforts to enhance India’s tourism landscape. The tourism minister was accompanied by Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism; and the OSD to the Minister for Tourism, Shawn Mendes.
The conference served as a strategic platform to discuss the draft frameworks on ‘Development of 50 Tourist Destinations’ and ‘Performance Linked Incentives (PLI)’, as well as the Integrated Tourism Promotion Scheme (ITPS), aimed at positioning India as a holistic tourism destination in domestic and international markets. It also focused on aligning central and state-level initiatives to accelerate the growth of India’s tourism sector and enhance its global competitiveness.
Rohan A. Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa, stated “Goa’s tourism vision is rooted in regenerative practices that balance economic growth with environmental preservation and community well-being. This is a strong start to the 2025–26 tourism season, and Goa continues to expand its international connectivity and diversify its tourism offerings. Our new destination development projects in Pernem and Canacona will redefine Goa’s tourism landscape, supporting both community and economic growth while staying true to our commitment to sustainability. Through technology-enabled tourist safety and a visitor-first approach, we aim to deliver truly transformative experiences rooted in our philosophy of Atithi Devo Bhava.”
Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, added “The conference in Udaipur provided an excellent platform to align Goa’s vision with the national tourism strategy. Our focus is on strengthening the state’s position as a year-round experiential tourism destination by integrating infrastructure enhancement, heritage conservation, and cutting-edge digital solutions for improved visitor engagement and safety. Goa’s model of regenerative tourism is built around collaboration between the government, local communities, and industry stakeholders, ensuring that the benefits of tourism flow directly to the people of the state. Goa’s approach to destination development goes beyond infrastructure, it is about creating vibrant tourism hubs that blend culture, heritage, environment, and modern experiences. The Mega Performance Arena and Lord Parshuram Statue & Museum are game-changing projects that will bring economic opportunities to local communities and elevate Goa’s position on the world tourism map.
During the plenary sessions and technical presentations, Goa showcased its long-term vision for tourism growth, built around regenerative, sustainable, and community-led development. The state’s presentation outlined a robust and forward-looking strategy anchored in enhancing infrastructure, connectivity, cultural preservation, technology integration, and visitor experience.
In addition to these flagship projects, the Minister also highlighted Goa’s strong start to the 2025–26 tourism season, marked by the arrival of the first charter flight and enhanced international air connectivity. With three new weekly flights from Novosibirsk to MOPA and Aeroflot now operating nine weekly flights from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, and Novosibirsk, Goa continues to strengthen its presence in the Russian market. Further, charter flights from Kazakhstan commencing on October 25, 2025, will open up a new source market, contributing to Goa’s growing inbound tourism footprint.
