PANAJI
The establishment of a Goa Hospitality Safety Council and the development of an integrated hospitality safety policy are among key recommendations put forth by the Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI), Goa Chapter, before the State government.
The FSAI Goa Chapter presented its recommendations in a White Paper to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday.
The document presents a comprehensive policy framework for strengthening safety, security and resilience across Goa's hospitality sector, with the objective of supporting sustainable tourism growth while enhancing visitor confidence and improving the ease of doing business.
Other major recommendations include introduction of a single-window digital approval system, AI assisted building plan scrutiny, risk-based inspections, mandatory annual third party safety audits, digital maintenance logbooks, QR code-based certification, Fire Marshal and Safety Officer certification programmes, adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM), smart fire detection systems, digital twin technology and state-wide safety awareness initiatives.
The White Paper on Safe and Secure Hospitality in Goa has been prepared by the Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI), Goa Chapter as an outcome of the National Conclave on Safe & Secure Hospitality held in Panaji.
The FSAI Goa stated that with rapid expansion in hotels, resorts, homestays, restaurants, villas and tourism-related infrastructure, ensuring the safety of visitors, employees and local communities has become a strategic necessity rather than merely a statutory requirement.
The White Paper advocates a transition from a compliance-driven regulatory approach to a proactive and integrated safety management system that promotes continuous improvement, technological innovation and collaborative governance.
The FSAI Goa said the recommendations are based on extensive deliberations involving government departments, policy makers, hospitality industry leaders, architects, engineers, planners, fire and emergency services, disaster management professionals, academicians and safety experts.
These discussions identified key challenges including fragmented regulatory processes, delays in approvals, inconsistent interpretation of regulations, limited inter-departmental coordination, inadequate adoption of digital technologies, insufficient emergency preparedness, gaps in maintenance of safety systems and the need for stronger organisational safety culture.
Drawing upon best practices from leading tourism destinations across the world, the White Paper proposes thirty actionable policy recommendations organised under six strategic themes: Institutional Reforms, Digital Governance, Continuous Safety Assurance, Capacity Building, Smart Infrastructure and Tourism Safety Culture.
The White Paper further proposes a phased implementation roadmap spanning five years, beginning with foundational reforms such as digital approvals and coordinated inspections, followed by capacity building and system integration, and culminating in smart governance supported by predictive analytics, real time dashboards and advanced digital technologies.
A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework with measurable performance indicators has also been suggested to ensure transparency, accountability and continuous policy improvement.
The FSAI Goa said the overarching intention of the White Paper is to assist the State government in developing a modern, transparent and technology-enabled regulatory ecosystem that protects lives and property while fostering investment and sustainable economic growth.
By integrating safety into every stage of planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance, the White Paper envisions a future where safety becomes an integral component of tourism excellence, visitor satisfaction and long-term resilience.
