Goa CM moots for unified portal for small hospitality businesses

Panaji: The Goa government is making attempts to bring small hospitality industry players on one portal to boost ease of doing business in the tourism sector, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday at the CII Annual Tourism Summit.

"Goa has launched a new State tourism policy, which will help the government push the systematic development of the sector. This policy has been framed to offer the unique Goan experience to the visitors by presenting a mix of holistic, natural and cultural locations and attractions," Sawant said at the two-day virtual summit, which kicked off on Wednesday.

"This policy will be the backbone for crucial decisions (related to) planning, development and marketing. Goa is also working on creating a robust system where small hospitality players can be brought under a single portal to help boost ease of doing business," Sawant also said.

At the summit, the CII also released its Tourism Policy Dashboard, a document focusing on strategies to revive tourism in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The document suggests that the Goa government needs to promote water sports as well as create tourism related infrastructure in areas which are popular with tourists visiting the state.

"For Goa there is a need to have jetties to encourage water sports and other basic amenities such as waiting halls, parking facilities at tourist places in the State," the CII document states. Goa is one of the top tourism destinations in the country known for its beaches and nightlife. Last year, nearly eight million tourists visited the coastal state.