Panaji: Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has agreed to organise one of the G-20 summit events in the State informed Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant and said post Covid Goa has come up as one of the best destinations in the world. He was speaking after launching online services at www.goaonline.gov.in and www.goatourism.gov.in which comes under Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act at a function held at Seminar Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim today in the presence of Tourism Minister, Shri Rohan Khaunte; Chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, Dr Ganesh Gaonkar; Chief Secretary, Shri Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS and Secretary, Tourism, Shri Ravi Dhavan, IAS.

Speaking further Dr. Sawant appealed to all the stakeholders of the tourism industry in the State to come on online platform which is the one step to make Goa as a destination capital for tourism in the country. Not only the hotel industry but also those who are in adventure sports, water sports, hinterland tourism or tourist guides should come online, he said. They will derive dual benefit – their business will be officially registered with the Government and the other one is the Government will advertise their business on their own website which will help them for marketing. He said, it is not only the job of the Government to do everything but the stakeholders of the industry too should co-operate and get involved in every step which is taken by the Government. Shri Sawant further said, making available services online is a good step towards Ease of Doing Business. Tourists will get all the information about every stakeholder in Goa’s tourism industry and the type of activity they are doing. Illegal tourism business will not be entertained and thorough checks will be kept by the Tourism Department in coordination with other line Departments he pointed out.

Mopa Airport will be opened on August 15, 2022 he informed. To facilitate the tourists on weekends i.e. Saturday and Sunday, the Government is planning to start a paid public transport system. There are many hinterland tourist spots which are not yet explored by tourists which includes wild life sanctuaries. Monsoon tourism needs to be promoted, he said. Hotel industry needs to come on board with the Government to organise big events to attract international tourists. Government is creating infrastructure but it is the responsibility of every individual and stakeholders of the tourism industry to maintain it, he said.

Tourism Minister, Shri Rohan Khaunte said, Government is taking Ease of Doing Business seriously and in this direction, UT will ensure that persons doing business should be doing business by spending less time liasoning of paper work. Online facility is provided to ease out the whole process of the difficulties faced by the tourism industry, he said. Government has come forward with the concept “Trust our Goemkar” by which process will be done trusting the documents which will be uploaded online and will be certified at the time of site inspection. While doing this end to end process, it will be ensured that the Right to Time Bound Service act is followed within the stipulated time frame.  If the certificate is not issued online then it will be taken as deemed approved. Department will take responsibility for ensuring timely deliveries are met, he said.

He urged the hotel industry to work together with the Government to make Goa as the tourism capital of the country. Goa’s tourism has quantity but when we talk about quality tourism, we should see that the tourist information management system has to be in place. Government is working closely in these directions, he added. Secretary, Shri Ravi Dhawan, IAS in his introductory speech said as part of the initiative towards Ease of Doing Business this online facility is made available. Registration Facilitation Counters (RFC) operated through Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) will also continue to work, he said. Ease of Doing Business is a journey and not a destination so this step is just a one step ahead, he remarked. Director, Department of Tourism, Shri Menino D’souza welcomed. Manager, GEL, Shri Mayur Pednekar made a presentation of online services.  Managing Director, GTDC, Shri Nikhil Dessai, IAS and representatives of Travel Trade fraternity were also present on the occasion. (GoaNewsHub)