PANAJI
Against the backdrop of a growing number of accommodation facilities including some operating illegally, the Tourism Department has decided to crack a whip and directed Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) to refrain from listing unregistered hotels on their platforms.
Speaking to reporters in the capital on Thursday, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte stated that simplified procedures are already in place to ensure tourism-related businesses comply with government regulations.
“Not a single unregistered hotel should appear on OTA platforms. Hotels, homestays, and other tourism-related businesses have been provided with simplified procedures to adhere to government regulations,” he said.
The minister also urged local bodies and housing societies to collaborate with the Tourism Department by sharing details of illegal guest houses or hotels. This, he said, would help promote legal businesses.
Khaunte launched India’s first-ever Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy in Goa, as a part of an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Airbnb and the Department of Tourism. This is to promote homestay tourism and build capacity among hospitality entrepreneurs in both urban and rural areas of the State.
“Our homestay policy, specifically designed to benefit rural Goa, aligns seamlessly with our ‘Goa Beyond Beaches’ vision. By equipping residents with the skills to operate homestays, we are fostering economic growth, advancing regenerative tourism, and empowering women,” the minister added.
