MAPUSA
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte told the Assembly that from April 1, all hotels, guest houses, and homestays must register guests on the Tourist Information Management Enterprises (TIME) software for better data collection and tourism management.
He announced initiatives to attract high-spending tourists, including an airline incentive scheme, better direct flights, and E-visa reforms.
Responding to opposition criticism over foreign trip expenses, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa revealed that Rs 40 crore was spent on overseas travel between 2019 and 2023, with little visible benefit. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao argued that international promotions had failed to attract affluent tourists.
Khaunte defended the spending, stating global roadshows were essential for marketing Goa. He assured that agencies were empanelled through a transparent tender process. However, Alemao questioned the participation of the Tourism Minister’s OSD in these trips, with Khaunte citing his expertise but noting unpaid bills due to “political clearance” issues.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas urged the government to address the decline in Scandinavian tourists by seeking feedback from these countries.
