State Level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme Launched to Build Skilled Tourism Professionals in Goa
Panaji, September 24, 2026: The State Level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme was launched today by Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, as a new initiative aimed at developing skilled tourism professionals with strong knowledge of Goa’s heritage, culture, ecology and diverse tourism offerings.
The programme will equip youth with practical skills in tour guiding, communication, storytelling, safety, responsible tourism and digital tools, while creating opportunities for employment in the tourism sector.
Speaking at the launch, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte said the programme would provide young people with an opportunity to build careers within Goa’s tourism ecosystem and contribute to presenting the State’s diverse tourism experiences.
“Tourism creates opportunities across a very wide spectrum. It can be a guide, a driver, a farmer, an artisan or a family running a homestay. The important thing is to understand where your skills can contribute to the tourism ecosystem. This programme creates an opportunity for youth who enjoy interacting with people and exploring Goa to build a career as facilitators and become part of the tourism story of the State,” he said.
He further said that trained facilitators would play an important role in taking Goa’s tourism narrative beyond its conventional offerings.
“As we expand our tourism narrative beyond beaches to heritage, wellness, culinary, adventure, homestays and spiritual tourism, there is a need for trained people who can communicate these experiences responsibly. We want our youth to take advantage of these opportunities and build their future here in Goa,” Shri Khaunte said.
The launch of the programme comes following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, Goa University and the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (GIPARD). The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in tourism education, training, certification, research and capacity building in the State. The State Level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme is the first initiative to be undertaken under the MoU.
The first programme to be undertaken under the MoU will be the State Level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme, a certificate course at the Beginner and Advanced levels aimed at developing skilled tourist guides equipped with local knowledge, language abilities and professional competencies specific to Goa’s tourism sector.
The programme will combine academic instruction with practical exposure, with emphasis on effective communication, storytelling, Portuguese language skills, safety, ecology and responsible tourism. It will also introduce participants to modern digital applications, business and marketing tools relevant to the tourism and guiding sector.
The State Level Tourist Facilitator Certification Programme aims to train youth in the art of tour guiding while building their understanding of Goa’s geographical, ecological, cultural and historical heritage. It will also focus on building foundational knowledge of tourism trends, communication, cultural sensitivity. Additionally, the programme will also promote sustainable and ethical tourism practices, safety measures, customer handling and enhance employability.
At the end of the programme, participants will be equipped to apply their knowledge of Goa’s cultural, historical and ecological heritage in tour guiding, demonstrate professional communication and storytelling in English, communicate in basic Portuguese, conduct practical tour demonstrations and use digital and business tools for guiding and marketing.
The programme will also provide candidates with opportunities to engage with industry experts and local ecosystems through site visits, while supporting career pathways through self-employment, freelancing or work with tourism agencies.
The MoU marks a collaborative effort to strengthen professional capabilities within Goa’s tourism sector while creating a structured pathway for training, certification, employment and entrepreneurship in tourism guiding.
