‘Dubai is a place we can keep learning from’: Goa Tourism Minister

“Dubai is a place we can keep learning from. Firstly, Dubai as a destination – from what it was then to what it is today – is continuously changing. Secondly, people are coming here for different things – not only MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) offerings, or events. The changes which happen in Dubai are some learnings we can take back with us. Coming here for the ATM, allows for a bigger understanding of the expectations of the industry, talking to different countries, through meetings,” Khaunte told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview.

Khaunte’s comments on the sidelines of the 2024 edition of the Arabian Travel Market, held at Dubai World Trade Centre, where he also discussed tourism plans for Goa, ‘regenerative and responsible’ tourism, and more.

Goa is more than just beaches, says Tourism Minister at ATM 2024 Dubai

Goa’s Khaunte is on a mission to enhance the global representation of the Indian state, going beyond its beautiful coastlines and focusing on catering to the diverse needs of tourists from around the world.

“Goa, as we know, has always been about its coastline – when people come here it is usually for the sun, sand and sea – however, things are changing, especially after COVID-19 and people are looking at a different form of tourism, which is unlike the conventional form,” he explained, adding that people are more focused today on exploring places through its very last offering wherever they go.

In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals saw a rise of 138.69 percent as of November 2023 compared to 2022, with over 7.6 million tourists visiting the Indian state.

“Goa is dependent on tourism with almost 16.43 percent of the sector contributing to the GDP with almost 35 percent of direct and indirect employment,” Khaunte said, adding that the state is constantly adapting and changing to keep up with the preferences and thoughts of international tourists visiting Goa. They are developing and improving tourism offerings based on what tourists want.

Inside Goa’s regenerative tourism plans

“We believe in learning, improvising and changing ourselves to meet the needs of people and then industry – we believe in Atithi Devo Bhava (trans. A guest is akin to God) – that is why the idea of regenerative tourism came in,” he said.

Goa’s ‘regenerative tourism’ is built on the pillars of economics, environment and the society – all of which caters to sustainability, culture, heritage and more. However, according to Khaunte, “spiritual tourism” has become a favourite among tourists.

“We can see that spiritual tourism has been one of the main reasons why people are attracted to in Goa. History, spirituality, tranquillity, wellness – so, we need to start talking on those lines,” he said, adding that as the tourism industry adapts to evolving traveller demands, regenerative tourism presents an opportunity for Goa to further capitalise on these attributes.

Khaunte explained by promoting experiences that are rooted in local culture and value nature/community, Goa can attract a new segment of conscious and responsible travellers seeking more meaningful experiences. He added that many offerings of the state are still yet to be explored by tourists as well.

“A lot of people are still yet to discover Goa’s bird watching offerings – which has never been spoken about, our culinary sector is still yet to be explored. Informally, you could call us the food capital of the country – especially as today in Goa, all types of food is served rather than just Goan or Portuguese food,” he said.

Goa as a wedding destination

In addition, wedding tourism, in particular, has been on the rise in India. According to a report by BlueWeave Consulting, India has “experienced substantial growth and carved its niche in the global travel sector. This trend involves couples, accompanied by guests, traveling to serene locations to exchange vows. In India alone, there are a staggering one crore marriages annually. Increasingly more Indian couples seeking an unforgettable wedding experience are embracing the concept of destination weddings.”

The report, which also cited the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), said that India registered 3.2 million weddings between November 23 and December 15 in 2023. This contributed an estimated business of INR 3.75 trillion ($44.9 billion approximately) during 2023.

In contrast, the year 2024 will witness 3.5 million weddings during the same period, with anticipated expenses reaching INR 4.25 trillion ($50.8 billion approximately), the report said.

“Two things have occurred [due to the influx of weddings] – our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clear focus on MICE offerings, in which weddings are also included. He has previously spoken about wedding to be done within the country rather than outside. Today, we are talking about locations, with a policy in place – this will allow us move weddings through a single window from the tourism aspect,” he said, adding that this would make it easier for weddings and events to utilise various tourism locations and facilities across India in a coordinated manner with the government’s support.

“Moreover, this will create a lot of nostalgic moments,” he concluded.