PANAJI
Foreign companies will be eligible to bid for Goa's ambitious AI-powered tourism transformation project, but only if they form a consortium with an Indian partner, according to the Request for Proposal (RFP) floated by the Department of Tourism for the long-term public-private partnership initiative.
The RFP has invited bids for the conceptualisation, development, financing, implementation, operation and maintenance of an Integrated Sovereign AI-Driven Experience Tourism Platform and Infrastructure, envisaged to create a seamless, personalised and technology-driven tourism ecosystem across the State.
The concession will be awarded for an initial period of 30 years, extendable by another 30 years based on performance. The successful bidder will be required to commission the project within one year of signing the agreement.
One of the project's marquee components is the introduction of two premium 45-metre, AI-integrated heritage-themed passenger vessels, each with an approximate capacity of 200 passengers. The vessels are proposed to combine Goa's maritime legacy with immersive technologies such as holographic and AR/VR storytelling, curated Goan cultural experiences, traditional cuisine and intelligent visitor management systems.
The project also envisages an AI-powered digital ecosystem featuring personalised itinerary planning, multilingual virtual travel assistants, real-time destination recommendations, integrated ticketing and cashless payment facilities.
As part of the initiative, the official Goa Tourism website will be completely redesigned, while a new mobile application will provide offline access, digital guides and augmented, virtual and extended reality experiences.
To power the platform, the selected private partner will establish sovereign AI infrastructure comprising a central on-premise computing facility and Edge AI Micro Data Centres at key tourist destinations. The infrastructure is intended to support real-time crowd monitoring, faster data processing and smart destination management while ensuring tourism data remains within a secure sovereign ecosystem.
The project also includes an integrated emergency response network with geo-tagged SOS services linked to local authorities, besides the creation of expert-verified multilingual digital content, 3D heritage assets and immersive narratives showcasing Goa's historical, cultural and spiritual landmarks.
The concessionaire will be permitted to generate revenue through premium tourism services, digital experiences, concierge offerings, merchandise and other approved activities. From the second year onwards, it will be required to pay the government either the quoted Annual Licence Fee or five per cent of its gross annual revenue, whichever is higher.
