The tourism minister meanwhile, will serve as the vice-chairperson.

The government has accepted a proposal by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) to have the chief minister head the tourism board instead of the tourism minister. A notification pertaining to the constitution of the board is likely to be issued shortly, a government official said.

The tourism minister meanwhile, will serve as the vice-chairperson.

TTAG had earlier opposed the Goa Tourism Policy 2020 proposition to name the tourism minister as the chairperson of the board. It has been conveyed to the government that naming the chief minister of the state as chairperson would help obtain speedy approvals for bigger projects requiring authorization from departments that are not in the domain of the tourism minister.

Constitution of the tourism board will be crucial for the implementation of the tourism master plan, a vision document that’s aimed at the development of the state’s tourism sector.

An official said that once the board is constituted, it will take crucial decisions regarding marketing and promotions as well as choosing projects for the hospitality sector, with the tourism master plan serving as the basis.

The master plan has broadly outlined that the destination has to diversify its interests by presenting cultural, heritage, eco-tourism, nature, coastal and other attractions, and not merely focus on coastal tourism.

The official said that while another side of Goa is being presented to tourists, efforts are piecemeal. Promoting nature, eco-tourism, for instance, will not progress full steam unless a proper ecosystem is created, he said. “The concept of homestays is yet to be established here. If facilities are made available, I’m sure tourists will grab the opportunity to explore the villages.”

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said occupancy will rise only after the government makes it clear that tourists are welcome to the sunshine

Although Goa’s Covid-19 positivity rate has fallen below five per cent, the state’s hospitality industry is yet to get respite. Occupancy in the few hotels that have reopened so far — after the government permitted entry to fully vaccinated business travellers without a Covid-negative report — ranges between seven and 12 per cent only.

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said occupancy will rise only after the government makes it clear that tourists are welcome to the sunshine state. “Unless a positive message goes around, we will not see a steady flow of tourists. We may see some footfalls in August as there are a few public holidays, but there won’t be a heavy rush,” TTAG president Nilesh Shah, said.

He said the industry is hoping that all travellers be allowed entry on the basis of their vaccination certificates and suggested that those who are not vaccinated be asked to travel with a Covid-negative report or get tested on arrival.

In the previous tourist season, Goa witnessed a steady flow of domestic travellers from October and an exponential rise in December-January. The numbers started falling in March when the deadly second wave of the pandemic began raging across the country.

Shah said that while more starred hotels will begin functioning by mid-August, the smaller hotels will not until there is a clear signal of normalcy returning.

“Even when the season had picked up in November-December last year, not all hotels were operational. Only around 1,400 had resumed business,” he said.

Smaller hotels mushroomed during the decade as the charter tourist inflow swelled. With a break on the arrival of international tourists, these hotels have no takers.

The industry is hoping that the government of India will allow international tourists probably by September-October.

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