Khaunte, who is also information technology, and printing and stationary minister of Goa, said Sun, sea, sand and software are something the state government is trying to sell to promote the tourism-tech concept.
The Goa minister said so far the state has been selling only Sun, sand and sea. Now, the Pramod Sawant government in the state is looking at the opportunities like hinterland, and heritage tourism to help the economy to grow. While India is getting ready to be a cruise hub, Goa has a great opportunity in it as it has the potential of air, road and port, the minister added.
Goa has the maximum potential to be No.1 Cruise Destination of India and a Premier Embarkation Point. We need to leverage our assets to match the demands of International Cruise Tourism, the Goa minister tweeted.
Khaunte said Goa has a population of 15 lakh but some 80 lakh tourists visit the state annually. Around 1.49 lakh tourists arrived through cruise tourism in Goa between 2017-2020, of which 57% were from Europe.
Khaunte further said the country follows a model of cooperative, collaborative and competitive spirit of federalism, and nation-building can happen only when states progress.
Khaunte was speaking at the First Incredible India International Cruise Conference organised by Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in Mumbai on Saturday.
Through the Centre's Sagarmala project, Goa is connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Andaman etc, the state tourism minister said.
