Goa Tourism

Goa to enforce uniform rates, stricter rules for watersports operations

Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said the government will implement uniform rates, standardised kiosks, and stricter enforcement to streamline watersports operations in coastal areas to provide the best possible experience to tourists in the state. After chairing a meeting with stakeholders concerning the tourism industry on Wednesday, he said watersports activities have been a traditional source of livelihood for Goans. With time, we must ensure that regulations and transparency are maintained to provide the best possible experience for tourists, he said. The minister said the state has notified the rates proposed by watersports associations in an official gazette. Uniform rates for watersports across Goa from North to South have been finalised and will be implemented by all associations to ensure consistency, he said, adding that the move will prevent overcharging and bring parity across beaches. Khaunte said the government will clamp down on the illegal sale of watersport

Goa's 2025-26 tourism season begins with arrival of flight from Russia

Goa's tourism season 2025-26 kicked off on Thursday with the arrival of a charter flight from Russia, at Manohar International Airport in North Goa during wee hours. Passengers of the first international flight of the season were given a traditional welcome by the state tourism department. Director of state tourism Kedar Naik was present at the airport located at Mopa in North Goa to welcome the travellers. A senior tourism department official said that this season will witness the introduction of three new weekly flights from Novosibirsk city in Russia which will land at the Mopa airport. "These additional services, together with the existing flights from Yekaterinburg and Moscow, will increase Aeroflot's operations to nine flights per week, highlighting the strong demand for Goa as a preferred tourist destination," he said. The second 158-seater charter flight from Novosibirsk will land in Goa on October 3 at 6 am. Yekaterinburg will connect to Goa with B737-800 flights carryin

Goa real estate, hotel tariffs see 15-20% correction amid tourist surge

The substantial correction in real estate rates across Goa is a trend that analysts believe is part of a 'healthy cycle' that would create stronger foundations for growth in the future

Goa halts new Rent-a-Cab licenses after rise in road accidents, congestion

The Goa government has temporarily suspended the issuance of new Rent-a-Cab licenses in light of the growing safety and traffic concerns arising from the unchecked proliferation of self-driven rental vehicles, a minister has said. The decision was taken following a communication from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) highlighting a series of serious road accidents involving the Rent-a-Car and Rent-a-Bike vehicles, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho informed the state assembly in a written reply on Wednesday. He was responding to a question raised in the House by Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco. Godinho said many of these incidents were attributed to rash and negligent driving by tourists, including cases of driving under the influence of alcohol. "The matter was deliberated upon in detail during the State Transport Authority's (STA) meeting held on February 24, 2025, where it was unanimously resolved to keep the issuance of new Rent-a-Cab licenses in abeyance in the ..

IndiGo issues travel advisory for Goa, warns of flight delays due to rain

IndiGo Airlines advised passengers to stay informed by regularly checking their flight status and to plan for extra travel time due to possible weather-related delays and traffic disruptions

Tough season: Sharp drop in tourism forces closure of Goa beach shacks

Due to a sharp drop in tourists, a number of beach shacks in Goa have closed their operations weeks before the official end of the tourist season. Shacks on less popular beaches have already shut

Bengaluru court clears Goa tourism minister in illegal mining case

Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has been acquitted by a Bengaluru court in a case related to illegal iron ore mining and transportation. The verdict brings closure to a high-profile case that has been under scrutiny for several years. The case traces back to the early 2010s when allegations of widespread illegal mining activities emerged in Goa. In 2012, a government-backed inquiry led by retired judge M B Shah reported that all 90 iron ore mines in Goa were operating illegally, lacking proper environmental permissions. The inquiry estimated that illegal mining had cost the state more than USD 6 billion over five years. Consequently, the authorities ordered all mines to suspend operations from September 2012. In 2015, the Goa government renewed 88 mining leases, a move that faced legal challenges. Activists argued that these renewals were arbitrary and bypassed mandatory auctioning processes. Subsequently, in February 2018, the Supreme Court quashed these lease renewals, citing t

Goa tourism drop: What's driving tourists away from India's beach paradise?

Because Goa is constantly crowded, it can be difficult to find a peaceful spot. However, compared to 8.5 million foreign visitors in 2019, only 1.5 million came to Goa in 2023, according to CEIC

Search for Goa grows 12% in Oct-Dec, hotel bookings up 14%: MakeMyTrip

Goa continues to be India's leading leisure destination, as MakeMyTrip saw a 12 per cent rise in searches for the place on its platform and 14 per cent growth in hotel room bookings in October-December, the travel booking firm's co-founder and Group CEO Rajesh Magow said. The MakeMyTrip's data assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of rising concerns about a decline in Goa's tourism, particularly from foreign visitors and viral social media posts, showing images of empty beaches and closed shacks. Several social media users have also claimed exploitation by taxi drivers and rising hotel costs, with many reportedly opting for alternatives abroad, especially in Southeast Asian nations. "Our data from the last quarter of 2024 highlights Goa's continuing appeal as India's leading leisure destination. Searches for Goa on MakeMyTrip grew by 12 per cent year-on-year, showcasing sustained travel interest despite an already large base. This intent has translated into bookings as ..

One dead, 20 rescued as tourist boat capsizes near Calangute beach in Goa

One person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred around 1.30 pm, they said. "A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized," a senior police official said. Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets, he said. The passengers included children as young as six year old and women, he said. Spokesman of Drishti Marine, a government-appointed lifesaving agency, said the boat capsized around 60 metres away from the coastline, resulting in all the passengers falling off into the sea water. A family comprising 13 members from Khed in Maharashtra were among the passengers on board, he said. On seeing the boat getting capsized, a personnel of Drishti Marine rushed to aid and called for backup, he said. "In all, 18 on-duty lifesavers rushed to the ai

Man claims foreigners 'avoiding' Goa; state responds with police complaint

The Goa tourism department has lodged a police complaint, alleging that entrepreneur Ramanuj Mukherjee 'disseminated false data' to 'undermine' Goa's image

Taxi operators' strike at Mopa airport to continue; meeting with CM fails

A proposed meeting between protesting tourist taxi operators attached to the new international airport at Mopa in Goa and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant did not materialise on Friday afternoon, with the latter terming their agitation politically motivated. The taxi operators from Manohar International Airport at Mopa have been protesting since Thursday, pressing for their various demands, including complete stoppage of illegal transport at this greenfield airport, operated by GMR Goa International Airport Limited. The agitation was expected to be resolved on Friday afternoon after CM Sawant invited a delegation of the taxi operators to meet him at his official residence at Altinho in Panaji. Around 25 agitators went to meet the CM but were denied permission. Officials asked them to come with 8-10 members, said Chetan Kamat, a leader of the taxi operators. The protesters demanded that the entire delegation be allowed to meet the CM, or else the meeting should be cancelled, he said. K

Goa, MakeMyTrip ink pact to promote state's culture, sustainable tourism

The Goa government and online travel firm MakeMyTrip on Thursday signed an agreement to promote the state's cultural heritage and culinary traditions to make it into a year-round destination, moving beyond the sun, sand and beaches, according to a statement. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a public-private partnership, MakeMyTrip will highlight the state's inland cultural richness and culinary traditions, which usually take a back seat to popular coastal attractions by curating a cultural map of Goa, pushing various initiatives to promote the multi-faceted state, the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, and MakeMyTrip said in a joint statement. "Our collective vision of 'Goa Beyond Beaches' is to bring the hidden splendours of the state to the forefront, celebrate its rich cultural heritage, take tourism to the hinterlands of Goa and ensure sustainable and regenerative tourism practices that preserve our natural resources for generations to come. Our partnership ..

Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas conflict hit tourist inflow to Goa: Minister

The Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving Israel have shrunk the regular inflow of tourists to Goa from these countries, state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said. He was speaking to reporters here on Wednesday on the sidelines of the launch of Goa's new initiatives for boosting tourism in the coastal state. Russia, Ukraine and Israel are the three counties from where Goa gets a sizeable number of tourists, he said. "The crisis in which these counties are involved has shrunk the regular inflow of tourists to Goa," the minister said. Elaborating on how Goa is trying to overcome the vacuum created by this, he said, "If you go by the absolute number of tourists that visited Goa in the last one year, it is higher compared to the previous year. It indicates that domestic tourists are filling the vacuum." However, it cannot be ignored that international tourists on an average stay in Goa for eight days, while the average stay of domestic tourists is four

Kejriwal to embark on Goa visit to assess AAP's readiness for LS polls

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will embark on a two-day visit of Goa on January 11 to assess the AAP's preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, party sources said. Kejriwal, the AAP's national convenor, will also hold meetings with party workers during his visit, they added. "The two-day Goa visit is for assessing the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls. He will also interact with party workers," a source said. Kejriwal was in Gujarat on January 7-8 during which he held public meetings and met jailed party leader Chaitar Vasava. He also announced Vasava as the party's candidate from the Bharuch constituency.

Goa poised to become nurturing ground for startup creativity: IT minister

The Goa government will introduce a number of initiatives to provide support to startups as the state is poised to become a nurturing ground for startup creativity, a minister has said. Addressing the closing ceremony of three-day-long Tech Media Startup 2023 event on Thursday, Goa Information Technology Minister Rohan Khaunte also said the government's aim is to position the state as a premier startup destination in Asia. "Goa, with its vibrant spirit, is poised to become a nurturing ground for startup creativity. In the coming months, we will introduce a spectrum of initiatives to further catalyse business growth and provide startups with the support they need," he said. "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the aim is to position Goa as a premier startup destination in Asia...The state's unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage and burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit sets the stage for the convergence of startups and information technology," he said. The

Goa govt starts giving provisional NOCs for installation of beach shacks

Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said they have initiated the process of installation of beach shacks in the state and started giving provisional No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for it to the shack owners. The tourist season has already started in Goa and there has been a delay in putting up shacks after the state environment department delayed in ascertaining the carrying capacity of beaches (for shacks), Khaunte told PTI. The environment department has recommended that 364 shacks can be erected on various stretches of beaches in the coastal state, he said. We have already initiated the process of erecting beach shacks. The department is giving provisional NOCs to the shack owners, Khaunte said. The tourism department earlier set November 17 as the deadline for paying shack licence fees. But there was a request from shack owners to extend the deadline. The department has extended the deadline to accept the payments till November 25, the minister said. It is import

Goa govt makes it mandatory for shacks to sell its staple 'fish curry-rice'

Shacks on Goa's beaches will now have to mandatorily serve 'fish curry-rice', a staple of the coastal state, along with other Indian and international cuisines, state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has said. The compulsory inclusion of the coconut-based preparation, savoured for its tangy and spicy taste, in the menu is part of the state's new Shack Policy that aims to promote the Goan cuisine, the minister said on Sunday. Till now, shacks along the shoreline offered North Indian food, but Goan dishes were not available at these places, he said. The government has now made it compulsory for shacks to "display and serve" the Goan food, including 'fish curry-rice', he said. "We have to project our rich cuisine to tourists, Khaunte said. He said the Shack Policy, which was recently passed by the cabinet, also intends to address the challenge of illegal hawking and vending on beaches. Many women, involved in illegal hawking and vending on beaches, would pretend to be working at the s

G20 events will boost tourism sector further in Goa: CM Pramod Sawant

The G20 events hosted in Goa has offered the coastal state an opportunity to showcase its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage to the world which will boost its tourism sector in the long run, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. Dubbed as 'Pearl of the Orient', Goa's scenic beaches, sunny skies and sand draw tourists by hordes from various parts of the country and abroad. The coastal state just hosted two back-to-back crucial G20 events -- fourth Tourism Working Group (TWG) meeting (June 19-20) and Tourism Ministerial meeting (June 21 -22), taking the total number of G20 meetings hosted so far in Goa to seven, while two more G20 events are slated to take place here in July. "We are hosting altogether nine meetings of the G20, Sawant said in an interaction on the sidelines of the meetings. Addressing a gathering of G20 delegates here in the inaugural session of the fourth and final TWG meeting of the influential bloc, he said the crucial meeting would ensure in shaping a ...

As Goa loses tourists to Malvan, state police cracks down on touts

Facing the menace of touts who loot and harass the tourists visiting the coastal state, the Goa police have focused on eradicating the illegal parallel services provided by these touts