PANAJI
The Goa government will roll out the Inbound Tour Operator Incentive Scheme 2026 from April to boost international tourist arrivals and attract more charter flights, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Khaunte said the government has proposed an annual budgetary allocation of Rs 2 crore for the scheme, which has already been notified and will become operational from April 2026.
The initiative aims to ensure that incentives translate into a measurable increase in international charter flights and foreign tourist footfall in the State. The scheme incorporates defined performance benchmarks, including incremental charter flights over base-year levels, a minimum 70 per cent Passenger Load Factor (PLF), a mandatory seven-day stay for qualifying passengers, and route diversification through new international source markets.
Khaunte acknowledged that no formal cost-benefit analysis, SWOT study or independent impact assessment was conducted before launching the scheme. However, he said consultations were held with industry stakeholders and charter operators, who expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen international air connectivity and boost tourist inflows.
The minister emphasised that incentives will be strictly performance-linked. Disbursement will be made only after verifying key criteria such as a minimum 70 per cent passenger load per flight, confirmed passenger disembarkation in Goa and a minimum seven-day stay for eligible tourists.
Verification will be carried out using passenger manifests validated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Immigration and airport authorities, along with supporting accommodation records. Khaunte added that the scheme includes provisions for audits, scrutiny and recovery in cases of misrepresentation, ensuring accountability and outcome-based disbursement of incentives.
