Goa Tourism took a proactive step to bolster its position as a leading travel destination by hosting a high-level stakeholder meeting on May 14, 2025, at Paryatan Bhavan, Panjim. The meeting, chaired by the Minister for Tourism, Mr. Rohan A. Khaunte, brought together key officials including Mr. Kedar Naik (Director of Tourism), Mr. Kuldeep Arolkar (Managing Director of GTDC), Mr. Shawn Mendes (OSD to the Tourism Minister), and prominent figures from the tourism industry and the Goa Tourism Board.
Minister Khaunte, in his opening remarks, emphasized the necessity of timely and well-organized collaboration with stakeholders, particularly in light of evolving national and regional dynamics. Drawing attention to the recent Pahalgam incident in Kashmir, he noted the Prime Minister’s swift response through Operation Sindoor and stressed the importance for a tourism-centric state like Goa to evaluate the potential repercussions on travel sentiment. He explained that the meeting’s purpose was not just to address immediate concerns but also to cultivate long-term resilience. He advocated for a shift from mere policy reviews to flexible adjustments that are sensitive to on-the-ground realities, asserting that Goa’s strength resides in its people, where every Goan plays a role as a stakeholder, influencer, and tourism ambassador.
Director of Tourism, Mr. Kedar Naik, reiterated the Department’s commitment to listening, learning, and empowering stakeholders. He affirmed their dedication to ensuring that every voice within the sector is heard, from established hotels to local accommodations, digital platforms to community-based tourism operators, emphasizing the inclusive nature of Goa Tourism. The aim is to ensure that policies are inclusive, adaptable, and practical.
The Department also shared encouraging data, revealing a 10.5% year-over-year increase in tourist arrivals for the first three months of 2025, growing from 2,580,155 in the first quarter of 2024 to 2,851,554 in the same period of 2025. While April saw a slight downturn, the overall outlook remains positive, and targeted strategies are being implemented to navigate seasonal and market-specific variations.
The full day of sector-specific and plenary sessions demonstrated the Government’s focus on collaborative governance. Discussions ranged from analyzing the outcomes of the previous tourist season to jointly strategizing for potential future challenges, whether they be geopolitical, geoeconomic, or geostrategic. These consultations reaffirmed Goa Tourism’s dedication to collective planning and building resilience within the sector.
The concerns raised during today’s discussions, along with insights from previous engagements, have been compiled. The Chief Minister is expected to soon convene an interdepartmental meeting to foster a more coordinated response and achieve sustainable solutions to the identified challenges.
