Goa Tourism Minister Discusses Homestay Policies in Line with PM’s 'Viksit Bharat' Vision

Panaji(The Uttam Hindu):  Rohan Khaunte, the Tourism Minister of Goa, highlighted the state’s homestay policies as part of the alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) through “Yuva Shakti” (Youth Power) and “Mahila Shakti” (Women Empowerment). Speaking at the launch of the guidebook Goa Unseen, in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Department and Airbnb, Khaunte emphasized that the state's initiatives are in line with the four pillars of PM Modi’s vision. "We focused on two key aspects of tourism: Yuva Shakti and Mahila Shakti," he said. Elaborating on the homestay policies, Khaunte explained, “These policies empower women and make tourism more inclusive. We are focusing on homestays in rural areas, which allows us to create a new story for tourism while promoting inclusivity.”

He acknowledged the collaboration with Airbnb, the first to come forward with such an initiative, and praised their involvement in crafting a policy that all states can adopt. “Unless we collaborate and complement each other, progress is not possible,” Khaunte said. He further added, “The government’s role is to facilitate, not engage in business. We need policies in place, proper SOPs, skilling and effective marketing to help build a new narrative around homestays in Goa.”