World Tourism Day 2026 Concludes with Stakeholders’ Meet Focused on MICE, AI and High-Value Tourism
Goa Tourism is considering to offer five-year registration for eligible four and five-star properties; MICE bureau to be in place: announces Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte
Panaji, September 27, 2026: Goa Tourism concluded its World Tourism Day 2026 celebrations today with a stakeholders’ meet at Grand Hyatt, where Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte announced that eligible A and B category properties, including five-star and four-star hotels, would be considered for a five-year registration period, subject to compliance and clear responsibility for yearly requirements. He also announced that the MICE Bureau will be in place, as Goa seeks to strengthen its position in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions segment.
The stakeholders’ meet brought together tourism stakeholders, industry representatives and key partners to discuss the future of Goa’s tourism sector under the theme #GoaReimagines. The event was hosted jointly by the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, in association with the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and SKAL International.
The event was attended by Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, and Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa; Shri Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism; Shri Jack Sukhija, President, TTAG; Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and other dignitaries and tourism stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte underlined the need for stronger collaboration between the Government and the tourism industry, with reforms, infrastructure, safety, ease of doing business and new tourism experiences forming the core of Goa’s next phase of growth.
“I strongly believe that government has to always be a facilitator, and not a partner to be around with the business,” said Shri Khaunte, highlighting the Government’s efforts to simplify tourism-related processes and move services online.
He said reforms across hotel registrations, renewals, homestays and other tourism businesses were aimed at making processes easier while ensuring that compliance and safety remained central to the sector.
“Whether it was a hotel registration, renewal, home stay, restaurant, an agency, chef, everything happened online,” he said.
On the need for continued collaboration between the Government and the tourism industry, Shri Khaunte said, “If both of us are collaborative, we will not have any problem.”
Goa to strengthen MICE ecosystem and pursue year-round tourism
A major focus of the stakeholder meet was Goa’s growing MICE tourism opportunity, with the Government and industry highlighting the need to strengthen the State’s institutional framework to attract more conferences, conventions, corporate events and incentive travel.
Shri Khaunte said the Government was working towards putting the MICE Bureau in place, with the aim of enabling Goa to capture a larger share of the growing global business-events market.
“The MICE bureau will be in place,” he said, stressing the need to move quickly to capitalise on the opportunities emerging in the sector.
He further called for the tourism industry to work collectively to maximise the opportunities available to Goa.
“I’m happy to announce that Goa is now a lifetime member of the Indian Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) and we are partnering with them to create a dedicated Goa convention to capture essential high-value corporate travel.”
Tourism registrations to get longer validity, faster processing
Ease of doing business and tourism business registrations emerged as another key focus of the stakeholder discussions.
Shri Khaunte said the Government was working towards a system that would combine faster processing with greater accountability and compliance. He announced that applications for properties and relevant compliances would be accepted up to October 31, 2026.
“We have already extended the dates of applications for all the properties and renewals up to 31st October to comply,” he said.
He further stated that eligible A and B category properties, including five-star and four-star hotels, would be considered for a five-year registration period, subject to compliance and clear responsibility for yearly requirements.
The Minister also emphasised that the Government’s approach was to facilitate business while ensuring that tourism establishments adhere to the required safety and regulatory standards.
Shri Khaunte said the State Government is in the process of demarcations of points where kayaking can start and also regulate it.
“We are in the process of demarcations. Demarcations of points where kayaking can start and get regulated,” he said.
He added that the Government was working towards completing the process and providing a clear framework for operators.
AI, technology and human hospitality
Technology and artificial intelligence also featured prominently in the World Tourism Day discussions. Shri Khaunte highlighted the need to combine technology with Goa’s traditional strength of human hospitality.
“The question for this world is not whether AI will redesign tourism. It already is,” he said.
At the same time, he cautioned against allowing technology to replace human judgement.
“AI should never have the final word on the price or on a big guest or as an emergency,” he said.
Calling for a balance between technology and human interaction, Shri Khaunte said, “So let us talk about these three things of high tech, high touch, and high value, how we bring the two together, to build a Goa that earns 365 days a year.”
The World Tourism Day 2026 stakeholders’ meet concluded with a renewed emphasis on collaboration between the Government and the tourism industry to reimagine Goa as a year-round, high-value destination, while strengthening ease of doing business, safety, MICE infrastructure, technology, hinterland experiences and the overall visitor experience.
As Shri Khaunte said, “In Goa, there should be no off-season, only a difference.”
