Goa Tourism Minister talks about Aligning with PM's Vision of 'Viksit Bharat'

During the launch of the guidebook "Goa Unseen," created by Airbnb in partnership with the Goa Tourism Department, Khaunte stated, “In alignment with our Prime Minister's vision for Viksit Bharat, we have developed initiatives centered around four key pillars, focusing primarily on two within the tourism sector.”

He elaborated, “The first pillar is Yuva Shakti, and the second is Mahila Shakti. From the Mahila Shakti perspective, we aimed to create homestay policies that empower women and promote inclusive tourism. Our focus is on rural homestays, which allow us to tell a new story about tourism in these areas. This initiative began with Airbnb's involvement.”

Khaunte expressed his appreciation for Airbnb's collaboration, saying, “They were the first to partner with us, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations for developing a thoughtful policy framework that can be adopted by other states. Collaboration is essential for progress.”

He emphasized the role of the government as a facilitator, stating, “While we cannot directly engage in business, we must create supportive policies. It is crucial to have partners who can establish the right standard operating procedures, ensure effective skilling and upskilling, and market these initiatives properly to build a compelling narrative.”