Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jul 24: The Goa government is planning to urge the Centre to introduce Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) facilities at Dabolim and Manohar International Airports, a move it believes will significantly increase international tourist arrivals and improve travel convenience.

Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte proposed that coastal MLAs meet with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant before taking the demand to Union ministers in Delhi. BJP MLA Michael Lobo supported the proposal, calling VoA a “game changer” for the state’s tourism industry.

Khaunte said the issue has already been raised with the Union Civil Aviation Minister and that follow-up discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Ministry of External Affairs are on the cards.

Currently, VoA is available only for nationals of Japan, South Korea, UAE, and Russia at six major airports including Delhi and Mumbai. “We want both Goa airports notified under this facility,” Khaunte said, adding that discussions will intensify once the Assembly session concludes on August 8.

While acknowledging that VoA has its pros and cons, the minister stressed the need for a balanced and practical approach. He expressed optimism that a collective push would help Goa secure the facility.

Defending the state’s international tourism outreach, Khaunte cited successful promotions in newer markets like Poland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Addressing concerns raised by Lobo about declining tourist numbers, Khaunte rejected the claim, stating that arrivals have actually risen. He noted that second-home owners staying in private homes aren’t reflected in official data.

On the accuracy of tourism figures, especially during the pandemic years, Lobo questioned the government’s seriousness in tackling tourism-related issues. In response, Khaunte pointed to the adoption of the Tourism Information Management Enterprise (TIME) system for better data tracking and criticised negative portrayals by paid influencers during peak tourist seasons.