By Rajan Narayan

RECOGNIZING that tourism generates 35% of the jobs in Goa and contributes over 16.4% of Goa’s domestic product, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced major incentives for the tourism sector in his budget for 2025-2026, presented on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Presumably, the social media influencers have succeeded in convincing the state government to review its tourism policy.
The ground reality is that it is not charter tourism that is a major contributor to employment and revenue. There is a belated recognition of the major contribution of the much-maligned domestic tourists. It is refreshing to know that finally Goa has decided to look beyond the beaches to attract tourists of another kind, who are not looking to baking themselves in sun, sea and sand beaches of Goa.

PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURE
THE government also seems to have realised that it if the primary infrastructure of public roads, public transport and communications is poor, tourists will shift to other destinations more public-friendly and fun to visit for a holiday. In recent times it has been repeatedly pointed out that it is cheaper to have a holiday in Thailand or Vietnam than in Goa, particularly during the holiday weekends.
PRAMOD Sawant has rolled out the red carpet for the tourism industry. For the first time a sensible allocation is made, amounting to Rs440 crore for tourism- related infrastructure. The focus will be on eco-tourism, hinterland tourism and of course skilling Goans for jobs in the hospitality industry.
The budget also announced a partial tax holiday in the form of a 50% rebate on state GST for three-star hotel projects in Bicholim, Sanguem, Canacona, Ponda and Sattari. There are innovative schemes like promoting caravan parks in Keri and other forest areas in Goa. In keeping with BJP government’s obsession with Hindutva, temple tourism is also supposed to get a boost.
Though we wonder if an Ekadashi teertha yatra in Goa will have any takers. Goa does not have any heritage religious structures with the exception of the Old Goa complex of Bom Jesus Basilica and the Se Cathedral. We welcome the proposal to develop the 12th century Tambdi Surla Shiva temple complex. In recent years, Goa’s spice farms and waterfalls have also attracted a large number of young tourists.
The government appears to be even more serious about doing something about the taxi mafia which has been calling the shots in Goa for long enough. It is proposed to actively promote app-based taxis at affordable rates. It may be pointed out that tourist taxis and cabs in Goa are the most expensive in the country and can add up to more than the return air fare on a 10-day holiday!

AERO TOURISM
SAWANT has also announced a new aero tourism initiative which includes adventure activities like sky diving, drone games and immersive marine exhibits. Aerial sports are already available in the country, but are regrettably not properly regulated for safety. There are several deaths reported in the adventure sport of paragliding because these sports are conducted by untrained and un-licensed operators.
Sawant has also entrusted the job of dealing with the stray dog menace on the beaches of Goa to Dhristi Marine which is in charge of life-saving on the beaches of Goa, when tourists foreign and Indian get into trouble in unsafe beaches with currents. Goa’s beaches are the safest beaches in the world.
BESIDES tourism, job creation has also received a big boost. For the first time since 1993, the Goa government is offering a tax holiday to companies which invest more than Rs5,000 crore in the state. These corporate organisations will get a full reimbursement on state GST for five years. They will also get a waiver on stamp duty and registration charges along with subsidy on power and water supply.
New companies in the logistic sector will get subsidies on capital investment interest payment, and upgradation on software. Cold chains, which play a crucial part in tourism, will also be strengthened. The value-added tax on natural gas has been reduced from 12.5% to 4% to encourage industries to use cleaner fuel. Sawant’s budget marks a strategic shift towards bringing in fresh investment in the manufacturing sector including pharma, electronics and cashew processing business.
There are other interesting initiatives. It has been decided to create a dedicated job portal which will enable all private companies in Goa to post vacancies for the benefit of Goan candidates. Goans will have exclusive access to tourist portals for the first seven days after the vacancies are announced. An outlay of Rs62 crore has been provided for the Electricity department. Villages will be encouraged to switch to solar power.

ELECTRIC CARS, PLEASE
TO encourage the shift to electric cars, the number of charging stations will be increased using high-tension power from overhead lines. There is a higher allocation for agriculture, the super speciality departments in the GMC and other hospitals are proposed for strengthening healthcare services. It’s also proposed to create a new mega complex to accommodate the Goa Pharmacy College, the Goa Architecture College, Goa Music Colleges and the Goa College of Art.
Every class in government middle schools will get laptop to promote e-learning. There is also provision for teaching coding and robotics in schools at a budget of Rs19.9 crore. Internship will be compulsory for students pursuing graduation from the next academic year. Start-up cells will be promoted in engineering colleges.
And the interesting initiative is the proposal to translate 12 volumes of Hortus Malabaricus, a Portuguese treatise which has extensive documentation of the Western Ghats. Students who have completed 12th standard with national qualification skills in fashion designing, home furnishing, beauty and wellness, will get accessories kits of Rs20,000. This should be extended to physiotherapists who play a major role in recovery and rehabilitation of the patients.
There is no tax relief for the aam aadmi in the 2025 budget. However, the good news is that there is no increase in the burden of the common man. It is to be hoped that incentives provided for infrastructure and tourism will create more employment opportunities for the many seeking jobs.