Goa seeks some inspiration from Spanish town known for its beach sports
'With the right investments and partnerships, Goa can emerge as Asia's leading hub for beach and coastal sports tourism, attracting participants and visitors from across the globe, much like Tarifa has done for Europe,' Khaunte said.
The minister said Tarifa, which lies at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and is known for its windy beaches, has transformed itself into the 'wind capital of Europe' through kitesurfing and windsurfing. He said this shows how targeted positioning can help attract 'quality' tourists and create a thriving sports economy.
'Goa is uniquely positioned to become a premier beach sports destination. With over 100 km of pristine coastline, favourable marine conditions and a globally recognised tourism brand, our state offers ideal conditions for beach and water-based sports, such as volleyball, football, windsurfing, sailing, regattas, surfing, kiteboarding and beach cricket. The year-round pleasant climate, scenic beaches like Morjim, Arambol, Calangute and Colva and robust hospitality infrastructure enable hosting high-profile events across multiple seasons,' Khaunte said.
He was responding to a calling attention motion moved by MGP MLA Jit Arolkar in the Assembly on Friday. Arolkar said there was an urgent need to position Goa 'not just as a tourist state, but also as a beach sports destination'.
'Countries like Australia, Brazil and Thailand have successfully promoted beach sports like volleyball, surfing, beach cricket, and kiteboarding to attract quality tourists and extend the tourist season. I urge the government to aggressively position Goa as a beach sports tourist destination by identifying beaches like Morjim, Arambol, Calangute, Colva and others and create the best infrastructure to host national and international beach sports events,' Arolkar said.
Khaunte said the state has a proven track record of hosting global sporting events, citing the successful hosting of Ironman 70.3 Triathlon, the Rainforest Challenge, Beach Volleyball World Tour, and the World Table Tennis Star Contender.
'These events are not just competitions. They stimulate high-value tourism, generate employment, benefit allied sectors and strengthen brand Goa on the global map,' the minister said.
Khaunte said the Tourism department envisions expanding coastal sports tourism through developing flagship sailing and regatta events, leveraging Goa's natural marine advantages, establishing dedicated beach sports infrastructure at identified locations, partnering with national and international sporting bodies for recurring events in disciplines like beach volleyball, windsurfing, and kiteboarding and curating integrated sports and leisure festivals to enhance spectator engagement and extend tourist stays.
'Positioning Goa as a premier beach sports tourism hub will require joint and coordinated efforts between the department of Tourism, department of Sports and other line departments to align infrastructure, event promotion, and talent development,' he said.
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