Goa Yuva Tourism Meet 2026 Puts AI, Young Creators and Digital Innovation at the Centre of Tourism’s Future
Goa Tourism launches AI chatbot, Goa Creator Circle and State-level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme; students, creators and tourism stakeholders explore technology-led opportunities for Goa
Panaji, September 24, 2026: The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, hosted the Goa Yuva Tourism Meet 2026 with the theme Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism, bringing together school and college students, young tourism enthusiasts, content creators, influencers, tourism stakeholders and industry representatives to explore how technology, creativity and artificial intelligence can shape the future of tourism in Goa.
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, Government of Goa; Shri Kabir K. Shirgaonkar, Director, Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa; Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC); Smt. Revati Mujumdar, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Goa Electronics Limited (GEL); and Shri Jack Sukhija, President, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), along with students, creators, tourism professionals, academia and other guests.
The programme commenced with the traditional lamp lighting, setting the tone for a day focused on innovation, youth participation and the evolving role of technology in tourism.
A key highlight of the meet was the launch of Goa Tourism’s AI chatbot, aimed at providing visitors with a technology-enabled and accessible way to discover information about Goa. The chatbot was launched by Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, with the launch highlighting the Department’s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into the visitor journey.
Released initially as a Beta version for further refinement, the AI-powered assistant is designed to provide visitors and residents with trusted, verified government information regarding Goa Tourism and GTDC services.
The Tourism AI chatbot directly addresses traveler questions about verified stays, authentic cultural experiences, safe transit and local transport with a simple ‘Chat with Us’ feature. Currently live on both the official Goa Tourism website and the GTDC portal, the chatbot offers multi-lingual assistance in English and Hindi, with Marathi and Konkani to follow. It guides users through GTDC hotels and registered private stays, provides transit help reaching Goa and travelling within the state. It also includes built-in support for raising and tracking inquiry tickets.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte said, “The future of tourism is being decided on the phone in your pocket, by the people holding those phones, and that is all of you here.” He urged youngsters to look at Goa not only as a tourism destination but also as a place where they can build ideas, businesses and careers, using technology to solve real problems faced by visitors, local communities and tourism businesses.
The meet featured discussions and interactive sessions around Goa’s Hinterland Tourism and Sustainable Digital Agenda, focusing on the potential of technology to amplify lesser-known destinations, rural homestays and spice plantation circuits while ensuring that local communities continue to retain ownership and economic benefits.
The second session focused on the Future of Goa’s Coastal Tourism and AI, exploring technology for multilingual navigation, digital tools for tourism businesses and ways in which grassroots enterprises such as local artisans and village guides can adopt technology.
The session on Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Goa Tourism brought participants into a larger conversation on the role of AI and digital innovation in creating more accessible, relevant and engaging tourism experiences.
The event also celebrated Goa’s growing community of digital storytellers through the launch of the Goa Creator Circle 2026. The initiative seeks to bring together content creators, bloggers, artists and digital entrepreneurs from Goa and create a platform for collaboration and tourism storytelling.
On the occasion Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte felicitated young Goan digital creators and influencers as part of the programme, recognising their role in showcasing Goa through digital platforms. The event also featured an engaging and interactive session with influencer Scarlett Rose, providing participants with an opportunity to discuss content creation, digital influence and storytelling.
The Yuva Tourism Club Pitch Competition Awards were also presented, with top-performing college clubs recognised for their ideas and initiatives. The awards highlighted the role of young people in developing fresh perspectives and solutions for Goa’s tourism sector.
The meet also witnessed the launch of the State-level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, providing an opportunity for eligible individuals to participate in Goa’s tourism ecosystem as facilitators.
Shri Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism, said, “The Yuva Tourism Meet is an opportunity to bring young people closer to the tourism sector and give them a platform to understand the opportunities emerging through technology and innovation. Goa has a strong pool of young talent, and by connecting their creativity with real tourism challenges, we can encourage ideas that benefit both visitors and local communities.”
The Goa Yuva Tourism Meet 2026 thus provided a platform for young participants to explore how AI, digital platforms, content creation and innovation can help take Goa’s tourism story beyond conventional destinations and create new opportunities across the State.
