Skift Take
Goa is working to position itself as more than just a tourism destination known for its beaches and nightlife. As it seeks to welcome more visitors, the state is taking measures to ensure that the negative impacts of tourism are mitigated - both on the environment and its people.
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The coastal state of Goa has asked for public views, objections, and suggestions on the draft of the Goa Tourism Promotion and Management Bill, 2024. The bill aims to look at various aspects of tourism in the state, including illegal activities, job creation, and impact on the state’s economy.
According to Goa tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, the bill has already taken into consideration inputs from the industry stakeholders.
Tourism Clusters: As part of its tourism development, the state is developing tourism clusters in the state. It currently does not have any.
In the draft bill read by Skift, Goa tourism ministry said that the number of tourists visiting the state significantly outnumber the residents. Accordingly, it is important “to identify and demarcate areas for targeted tourism development and to ensure the safety and well-being of tourists through appropriate regulation and control over activities, persons, and entities.”
A Sustainability Fee? Recent media reports stated that the state was planning to introduce a 2% ‘tourism development and sustainability' fee. The state’s tourism minister has clarified that the claim of a sustainability fee is “baseless.” “It i