Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 23: Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has announced a series of measures to streamline watersports activities along the state’s coastline, aiming to enhance the experience for tourists while ensuring transparency and safety.

Chairing a meeting with stakeholders on Wednesday, Khaunte emphasised that watersports have long been a vital source of livelihood for Goans. “With time, we must ensure that regulations and transparency are maintained to provide the best possible experience for tourists,” he said.

The state government has notified rates proposed by watersports associations in the official gazette, ensuring uniform pricing from North to South Goa. The minister noted that this move will prevent overcharging and bring consistency across beaches. Authorities will also clamp down on the illegal sale of watersports packages by unregistered travel agencies.

To enhance credibility, kiosks across beaches will adopt a standardised design, making it easy for tourists to identify authorised operators. Watersports staff will also be issued ID cards, subject to police verification and data sharing with the Tourism Department, to curb touting.

Khaunte further instructed the Captain of Ports not to grant permissions for tourism activities during the monsoon ban period to safeguard marine biodiversity. The Tourism Department, in coordination with local panchayats and associations, will enforce strict measures without causing inconvenience to visitors.

The meeting also stressed improved coordination between departments and stakeholders, including stricter safety protocols, integration of official watersports portals on the Goa Tourism website, and promotion of authentic information for tourists.

With these measures, Goa aims to provide a safer, more transparent, and uniform watersports experience for visitors while protecting local livelihoods and marine life.