PANAJI
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Friday called for a coordinated effort to position Goa as a premier global destination for beach sports, citing the State’s natural coastal advantages and recent successes in hosting international sporting events.
“Events like Ironman, RFC, and beach volleyball have boosted tourism in Goa, attracting both domestic and international athletes. There is a need for a focused strategy with coastal MLAs and the CM to promote Goa as a global beach sports destination, with sustainability as a key focus,” he said, responding to a Calling Attention motion by Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar urging the government to aggressively promote Goa not just as a general tourist destination but as a specialised Beach Sports Tourist Destination. Arolkar referred to countries like Australia, Brazil and Thailand that have used sports like beach volleyball, surfing, cricket, and kiteboarding to draw quality tourists and extend the tourist season. He proposed the government identify Morjim, Arambol, Calangute and Colva to develop world-class infrastructure for hosting national and international-level beach sports events.
Khaunte agreed that Goa is uniquely positioned to capitalise on its over 100-kilometre coastline, scenic beauty, and favourable weather to support year-round sporting activities.
He also highlighted Tarifa in Spain as an example of how targeted promotion of beach sports transformed the town into the “Wind Capital of Europe,” saying Goa could similarly emerge as Asia’s leading hub for beach and coastal sports tourism.
