Latest news with #KedarNaik
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Saligao taxi owners meet MLA, demand scrapping of cab aggregator plan
Calangute: Taxi owners from Nerul, Pilerne, Saligao and other parts of the Saligao constituency on Sunday met local MLA Kedar Naik to demand that state govt discontinue plans to bring in more cab aggregators in Goa. 'We are against the new taxi aggregator guidelines. We have told our MLA that it should be scrapped because otherwise it may result in Goan taxi owners getting scrapped,' said Laxman Korgaonkar, a taxi union leader. Korgaonkar, who operates a tourist taxi in Candolim, said the transport department had scheduled a meeting to discuss the new taxi aggregator guidelines with taxi owners in Calangute, but the meeting was abruptly cancelled without any explanation. 'Our demands are well known. But if we don't come forward and state our opposition to the guidelines now, tomorrow they will say we never objected and so they are allowing cab aggregators. We are opposed to the cab aggregators,' he said. Saligao MLA Kedar Naik said, 'If outsiders come to Goa, it will affect the livelihood of Goans. In the next few days, I will discuss this issue with other coastal belt MLAs and later meet the CM and the transport minister and put forth their issues for govt to take appropriate steps.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Registration of hotel booking portals must'
Panaji: The tourism department has issued a fresh directive urging all online travel platforms to register with the department within 15 days. Tourism director Kedar Naik said that the department found several online travel aggregators accepting online bookings without obtaining the required no objection certificate (NOC), licence, or permissions from the department. Naik said that under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 and Rules of 1985, all online travel portals must complete their registration within 15 working days from the date of issue of the official circular. This is not the first time the department issued such a directive. In 2023, the tourism department directed hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and online travel agencies to register with the department before conducting any tourism-related transactions or activities in Goa. Then director of tourism Suneel Anchipaka threatened to impose hefty fines since offering services to tourists without registration was deemed illegal. A few weeks earlier, the department asked eco-tourism farms, watersports operators, and all other stakeholders to also register with the department.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Regular recalibration with stakeholders is required to build a resilient tourism sector: Goa Tourism Minister, ET HospitalityWorld
Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHospitalityWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App In a proactive move to reinforce Goa's position as a premier tourism destination, the department of Tourism, Government of Goa , convened a high-level stakeholder meeting at Paryatan Bhavan , Panjim. The meeting was chaired by the minister for Tourism, Rohan A. Khaunte, and attended by key officials including Kedar Naik, director of Tourism; Kuldeep Arolkar, MD of GTDC; Shawn Mendes, OSD to the tourism minister; and leading members of the tourism industry and Goa Tourism his opening remarks, Khaunte emphasised the importance of timely and structured stakeholder engagements, particularly in light of national and regional developments. Referring to the recent Pahalgam incident in Kashmir, he noted, 'As the Hon'ble Prime Minister ensured a swift and resolute response through Operation Sindoor, it was equally important for us, as a tourism-driven state, to evaluate the ripple effects on travel sentiment. Today's meeting was not only about addressing current concerns, but also about building long-term resilience. We are moving from mere policy reviews to dynamic recalibrations that are responsive to ground realities. Goa's strength lies in its people—every Goan is a stakeholder, an influencer, and a tourism ambassador.'Director of tourism, Kedar Naik, underlined the department's commitment to listening, learning, and enabling. 'We are here to ensure that the voice of every stakeholder is heard. From formal hotels to homestays, from digital platforms to community operators—Goa Tourism belongs to all of them. The goal is to ensure that our policies remain inclusive, adaptive, and implementation-ready.'The department also shared encouraging data, with Goa witnessing a 10.5 percent year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2025, rising from 25,80,155 in Q1 2024 to 28,51,554 in Q1 2025. While the month of April saw a marginal dip, the overall sentiment remains strong, and targeted strategies are being deployed to address seasonal and market-specific full-day series of sectoral and plenary sessions reflected the government's emphasis on collaborative governance . From understanding how the previous season unfolded, to jointly preparing for emerging challenges—whether geopolitical, geoeconomic, or geostrategic—the consultations reaffirmed Goa Tourism's commitment to collective foresight and stakeholders were informed that the Chief Minister will soon be chairing an interdepartmental meeting to drive a more coordinated response and lasting resolutions to the challenges at hand.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Goa Sees 10.5% Increase in Tourist Arrivals in Q1 Amid Growing International Connectivity
Panaji: Jan to March saw a robust 10.5% year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals, with 28.5 lakh domestic and international tourists visiting the state, up from 25.8 lakh visitors in the first quarter of 2024, said the tourism department on Monday. The tourism department attributed the sustained momentum to stronger international air connectivity and new tourism attractions in the state. At the same time, the department acknowledged that the April to June period is likely to see a slowdown in bookings. While April generally sees a dip post-Easter, May traditionally performs strongly due to school holidays and domestic leisure travel. However, current regional uncertainties have cast some unpredictability over forward demand, said department officials. 'The department has convened meetings with representatives from hospitality, transport, travel services, and alternate accommodations to review May to July booking patterns and collaboratively identify steps to mitigate any potential slowdown,' said tourism director Kedar Naik. The department said that during the Oct-Dec quarter, Goa saw a growth of 38% in domestic and international arrivals. For the entire 2024, domestic tourists increased by 22%, while foreigners increased by 3%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo Goa received 9.9 million domestic tourists and 460,000 foreign tourists in 2024, as against 8.2 million domestic tourists and 450,000 foreign tourists in 2023. "Our Q1 success is not accidental — it is a result of deep partnerships, strategic planning, and consistent market outreach," said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte. He said that the department is working to integrate alternate accommodations into the formal ecosystem to get a clearer picture of tourist footfalls. The steady tourism numbers will provide some comfort for the state as the sector contributes 16.4% to the state's economy. To arrive at the tourism statistics, the tourism department claims it spoke to online travel aggregators, airlines, airports, hotels, shack operators, taxi operators, and international charter operators. To ensure that the state remains a year-round destination, the department is trying to appeal to conscious travellers, digital nomads, and off-season domestic tourists — with monsoon travel packages gaining traction in Middle-Eastern markets.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tourism dept approval now mandatory for agri farms and spice plantations
Panaji: Citing the need for 'upholding standards' and transparency, the tourism department issued a terse order to all agri farms and spice plantations to register under the within 15 days. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The order was issued on Thursday and calls for 'strict compliance' from all stakeholders. 'Many persons operating an agri farm or spice plantation with or without accommodation facilities, are doing so without permission or licence from this department,' said tourism director Kedar Naik. Goa's spice plantations and agri farms offer a unique blend of agriculture and tourism, giving visitors a glimpse of nature, culture, and culinary experiences. These plantations, which are predominantly in the hinterlands, also offer guided tours and a rustic homestay experience. Govt's official website shows seven major spice plantations, but there are many more registered with the agriculture department. When asked what action would be taken if agro farms continue to operate without licences from the tourism department, Naik said the department will initiate action as per the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act.
