Latest news with #Khaunte
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Farmagudi Shivaji Museum to open by April '26: Khaunte
Panaji: The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Digital Museum at Farmagudi, Ponda, costing Rs 125.6 crore, will open to the public by April 2026, said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte. The museum is being developed under the Centre's Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The project received Rs 97.4 crore from the Centre and Rs 28 crore from the state. The museum is envisioned as a catalyst for local economic activity by supporting tourism services, generating employment for Goans, and providing a platform for local artisans and artists to showcase their work. It will host year-round public programmes, exhibitions, and cultural gatherings, drawing both residents and tourists, said the tourism department in a statement. Khaunte said that the project will boost hinterland tourism. The museum, covering 29,212sqm including the existing fort area, will be completed by March–April 2026.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Porvorim town square, creek circuit works to be ready by Mar '26: Khaunte
Panaji: With the cabinet approving the Porvorim town square and the development of a creek circuit, the tourism department hopes to issue the work order to Bagkiya Constructions Pvt Ltd by next week, said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte. The minister said both projects will be completed by March 2026. Khaunte said Porvorim town square is inspired by New York's Times Square, San Francisco's Union Square, and London's Piccadilly Circus. 'When we travel around the world, we realise that open spaces are developed, where people come together and where activities are held,' said Khaunte. 'The Porvorim square will have a performance theatre, market area, musical fountains, movie court, heritage area, the Ashoka Stambh, and basement parking. ' The Porvorim town square is being built on three plots repossessed by govt from private developers after a legal battle and handed it to the tourism department. 'Work will start soon and should be completed by March 2026. The work order is to be issued next week. At the same time, work on the Porvorim creek will also start,' said Khaunte. Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, a rural circuit from Porvorim to Harvalem will be created, enhancing the Porvorim creek experience by encompassing Torda Creek, Malim Jetty, Virlosa, and Pomburpa Spring, and extending up to Harvalem, Khaunte said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Zumbido e perda de audição? Médico revela técnica caseira de 1 real para aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo The minister said the proposal to revamp Colva under Swadesh Darshan is being finalised and will likely be placed before the cabinet next month. Also announced were the beautification of Porvorim creek and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum at Farmagudi to boost cultural tourism. The press conference was attended by Shri Kedar Naik, director of tourism, Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, MD GTDC, and Shri Gavin Dias, General Manager GTDC. The Porvorim town square, spread over 11,000sqm, is a first-of-its-kind heritage-linked public space aimed at promoting economic growth and year-round public programmes. Khaunte said nearly Rs 400 crore is being spent to revitalise Goa's tourist spaces with Central support under the scheme for special assistance to states for capital investment (SASCI) scheme.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
'Don't sell land to Delhi people: Why is state agri minister warning Goans about Delhiites
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik on Monday appealed to Goans to refrain from selling their ancestral land to builders and individuals from Delhi. He warned that the unchecked sale of land to non-Goans could leave locals landless and contribute to the decline of agriculture in the state. 'Delhi is hot and has a lot of pollution. During those days, people want to come to Goa. They buy homes here, buy land here. Goans should not sell their land to Delhiites. Goans should not sell their land to anyone,' he said. 'We should not sell our land, otherwise, Goa will not remain. There will be no land left for Goans. People can come here, have a picnic, and they must go back,' Naik told television reporters. 'We need to preserve our ancestral land. We get some tourists in jeeps who cook and eat on the roadside, create a mess, and go. What does Goa get from them? Nothing. We don't want such tourists who don't stay in hotels,' added Naik. Goa faces competition Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said the coastal state is facing competition from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia, and steps will be taken to ensure that the footfall of tourists is unaffected during monsoon. He said monsoon festivals and trekking activities can be a big draw for tourists during what is traditionally not a peak season. Live Events Khaunte chaired a meeting with the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), hoteliers and airlines earlier this week to discuss the promotion of monsoon tourism. He said Goa faced competition from the tourism markets of Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and the industry has witnessed disruption following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "Although Goa did well in the first quarter of the year, with 10 per cent growth compared to the same period last year, April witnessed a low," the minister said. He said the impact of the Pahalgam attack could be seen in the tourism industry in May, as several tourists cancelled their travel plans. The whole focus is right now on the monsoon tourism and how the industry can come together collaboratively and competitively, offer packages and promote "Goa beyond beaches" in the right sense, Khaunte said. He said the state has been celebrating monsoon festivals such as Sao Joao, Chikhal Kalo and Bondera and even organising treks, which can be a major attraction for tourists. "When we speak about competition from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia, we are speaking about the pricing and also how we can make tourists spend more days in Goa," he said. Khaunte said the state needs to promote itself in a big way in UAE and the Middle East. "The hotel industry and the airlines have assured that they will put together ideas and curate the packages for tourists during monsoon season," he said.
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Goa plans to draw in tourists this monsoon with festivals, treks
Panaji, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has said the coastal state is facing competition from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia, and steps will be taken to ensure that the footfall of tourists is unaffected during monsoon. He said monsoon festivals and trekking activities can be a big draw for tourists during what is traditionally not a peak season. Khaunte chaired a meeting with the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa , hoteliers and airlines earlier this week to discuss the promotion of monsoon tourism. He said Goa faced competition from the tourism markets of Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and the industry has witnessed disruption following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "Although Goa did well in the first quarter of the year, with 10 per cent growth compared to the same period last year, April witnessed a low," the minister said. He said the impact of the Pahalgam attack could be seen in the tourism industry in May, as several tourists cancelled their travel plans. The whole focus is right now on the monsoon tourism and how the industry can come together collaboratively and competitively, offer packages and promote "Goa beyond beaches" in the right sense, Khaunte said. He said the state has been celebrating monsoon festivals such as Sao Joao, Chikhal Kalo and Bondera and even organising treks, which can be a major attraction for tourists. "When we speak about competition from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Indonesia, we are speaking about the pricing and also how we can make tourists spend more days in Goa," he said. Khaunte said the state needs to promote itself in a big way in UAE and the Middle East. "The hotel industry and the airlines have assured that they will put together ideas and curate the packages for tourists during monsoon season," he said.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Goa Tourism: Goa intensifies focus on weekday travel, curated cultural experiences for 2025, ET TravelWorld
Advt By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App Goa's Department of Tourism is set to launch a comprehensive 20-week monsoon campaign, as Tourism Minister Rohan A. Khaunte chaired a high-level strategy meeting on Monday. The session, held with participation from GTDC, TTAG, online travel agencies, and hospitality leaders, aimed to realign Goa's image during the off-season and define a collaborative roadmap for alongside Director of Tourism Kedar Naik and GTDC MD Kuldeep Arolkar, the Minister emphasised the importance of a united digital promotion strategy . A unified hashtag and themed weekly promotions will anchor the campaign, while hoteliers were urged to roll out targeted weekday and weekend packages.'This roadmap has taken shape after extensive discussions with OTA and airline partners like Airbnb and Agoda,' said Minister Khaunte. 'Despite temporary setbacks following recent events, Goa remains resilient and committed to promoting immersive monsoon experiences.'The campaign falls under the broader 'Goa Beyond Beaches' initiative, which highlights cultural festivals such as Sao Joao and Chikal Kalo. The government plans to shift perception of monsoon from off-season to an experiential travel opportunity for families, solo travellers, students, and women the meeting, stakeholders also discussed addressing misleading promotional content and regulating digital portrayals of Goa. The Minister called for authentic storytelling that reflects Goa's cultural essence and committed to regulatory oversight where UAE was identified as a key international source market, and plans to strengthen market connections and airline-hotel packaging are underway. A follow-up meeting will take place this week to finalise contributions from hoteliers and OTAs. An additional session scheduled for next Monday will focus on restaurant promotion, cultural tourism, and theme-based offerings.'This is not just about filling rooms but curating meaningful travel experiences,' said Khaunte, adding that long-term planning would be undertaken in coordination with the Chief Minister. 'Everyone loves Goa—we just need to ensure the world sees the right version of it.'
