The minister also announced that a “MICE” (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) Bureau would be put in place to attract more high-value business tourism and promote Goa as a year-round destination.
Addressing a tourism stakeholders’ meet organised here as part of the World Tourism Day, Khaunte said eligible A and B category properties, including four- and five-star hotels, would be considered for a five-year registration period, subject to compliance with regulatory requirements.
“We have already extended the dates of applications for all the properties and renewals up to October 31 to comply,” he said.
The minister said the proposed system would combine easier business processes with accountability for meeting annual requirements.
He said the government had taken steps to simplify various tourism-related procedures, including hotel registrations, renewals, homestays, restaurants and travel agencies, by moving them online.
“Whether it was a hotel registration, renewal, homestay, restaurant, an agency or chef, everything happened online,” Khaunte said, adding that the government’s role was to facilitate the tourism industry rather than become a business partner.
“I strongly believe that government has to always be a facilitator, and not a partner to be around with the business,” he said.
As per government data, Goa has recorded an overall growth in tourist arrivals between January and July, with the state welcoming 61.38 lakh visitors during the first seven months of this year.
On MICE tourism, Khaunte said the proposed bureau would help Goa tap the growing market for conferences, conventions, corporate events and incentive travel.
He also announced that Goa had become a lifetime member of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau, and said the state would work with the organisation to promote high-value corporate travel.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology also featured in the minister’s address, with Khaunte stressing that technology should complement rather than replace human interaction in the tourism sector.
“The question for this world is not whether AI will redesign tourism. It already is,” he said.
He said AI should not have the final say in matters such as pricing, dealing with important guests or handling emergencies.
The stakeholders’ meet, held at Grand Hyatt, was organised by the Department of Tourism in association with the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa and SKAL International, said officials.
