State seeks Open Skies push to boost tourism flights

PANAJI

The Goa Government has shared its detailed plan to link aviation and tourism, urging the Centre to allow a tourism-focused Open Skies policy.

This would help bring direct, long-distance international flights, especially from the UK and Europe, to Goa.

At the Western Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte asked for key regional air routes like Goa–Dehradun to be restarted.

He also pushed for new flights to culturally important places like Kolhapur, Velankanni, and Tirupati to improve regional links.

Goa has also sought Centre support to develop new aviation sectors like helicopter services, seaplanes, and drone technology under national schemes.

The state shared plans to set up an Aero-Sports and Drone Innovation Hub to promote skydiving, hot air ballooning, drone racing, and microlight 

flying.

Khaunte asked that Goa be included in all future bilateral Air Service Agreement talks to allow wide-body aircraft to operate, supporting national efforts to boost tourism.

To encourage airlines to fly to tourism-heavy areas, Goa called for a national incentive scheme to make long-distance international and regional routes commercially viable, supporting sustainable air connectivity.

The Minister also proposed India’s first integrated air–sea tourism hub by using the closeness of Dabolim Airport to a major cruise terminal, aiming to make Goa a leader in multi-modal tourism.

Noting the growing need for strong aviation infrastructure, Khaunte urged the Centre to quickly set up a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility on 26 acres reserved at Manohar International Airport, Mopa.