Panaji: To offer domestic and international tourists a greater variety of experiences in Goa, the tourism department has outlined plans to offer over 60 tourism activities in the state without any financial burden on the state exchequer. From skydiving and seaplanes to feni trails and wildlife safaris, the department wants to ensure tourists have something to do in Goa all year round.
The tourism department floated an expression of interest to capture data on the existing activities and tourist ventures that could be introduced in the state.
“The aim is to add structured activities to the existing activities. Today’s tourists are looking for newer experiences, and only if we give new experiences can Goa be competitive,” said tourism director Kedar Naik.
Activities across 11 categories, including water-based tourism, adventure and aero sports, wellness, cultural experiences, entertainment, and digital tourism have been identified. To qualify, the operator or tourism venture must have an average annual turnover of Rs 50 lakh in any three of the last five financial years, and at least three years of relevant experience.
The department intends to charge a fixed annual licence fee of Rs 5 lakh to register these activities. “Only when the activities are structured and transparent can we be competitive. When we are competitive, the rates can be kept in check,” said Naik.
The tourism department’s move invites scrutiny. Several activities on the list, such as seaplane services, helicopter tourism, hot air balloons, amphibious tours, and paragliding, are not new ideas for Goa. The seaplane services failed to take off because the operator was unwilling to start operations, and the required infrastructure was not provided at the identified sites. Helicopter tourism was similarly shelved. A Panaji-Reis Magos passenger ropeway project failed to move beyond the planning stage despite being awarded to a private player. An amphibious bus had its maiden trip in the state but was shelved after facing legal hurdles.
Tourism stakeholders also point out that several activities, such as spice plantation tours, culinary tourism, village experience circuits, feni trails, heritage walks, scuba diving, and snorkeling already exist in Goa. A tour operator who currently offers heritage trails and group picnics said that the registration costs of Rs 5 lakh would actually push up prices of the tour packages.
