Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has called for police action and accountability after videos showing alleged drug dealing and solicitation at Calangute beach went viral. He emphasised the need to protect Goa's image as a safe and preferred tourist destination.
Registration of a homestay with the tourism department is mandated under the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982.
Goa's nightlife is facing a crackdown ahead of the Christmas and New Year season, with the state government launching an intensive drive to inspect and seal establishments flouting norms after a deadly nightclub fire.
Observing that the accused has the propensity to influence the trial, the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former Goa Tourism Minister Francisco Mickey Pacheco in connection with the death of his woman friend.
Goa Tourism Minister Matanhy Saldanha died at a hospital in Panaji after suffering a massive heart attack in the wee hours of Wednesday.
'When an establishment operates despite demolition or closure orders, without proper fire exits, evacuation plans or safety audits, and yet is allowed to host large crowds, the state cannot hide behind the language of accident.' 'The authorities were aware of the risks and of the violations, but chose not to act decisively because doing so would have inconvenienced those with influence and financial stakes.' 'In such a scenario, the moral and legal responsibility for the resulting deaths moves from negligence towards culpability; calling it 'murder' is a way of underlining that these lives were sacrificed at the altar of greed and complicity, not fate.'
Interpol has issued a Blue Notice against the owners of a Goa nightclub who fled after a fire claimed 25 lives. Police are investigating violations and illegalities related to the nightclub's operation.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has courted controversy after he described the accused in the gang rape as "nave".
The chief minister fielded a volley of questions from the Opposition benches regarding the fire that broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane, a nightclub at Arpora village in North Goa that claimed 25 lives last month.
A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to give any interim protection from arrest to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the ill-fated Goa nightclub who fled to Thailand, as their partner was held in connection with the fire incident that killed 25 people last weekend.
The state expects rise in the tourists from Russia, CIS countries, Poland, Scandinavia and Finland.
India's live events scene is hitting a high note. With global performers adding the country to their tour maps and the government aiming to double the concert economy, hotels in key metro cities are bracing for sold-out weekends. Travel operators, too, are curating packages built entirely around concerts.
Learn about the historical spots in India most visited by domestic tourists.
The growing YOLO (You Only Live Once) mindset, coupled with a desire for immersive outdoor experiences, is driving demand, primarily across age groups from 20 to 45 years.
BJP MLA Michael Lobo claims that the sale of idli-sambar in beach shacks is contributing to a decline in international tourists visiting Goa. He attributes the issue to the influx of businessmen from other places, including Bengaluru, who are operating food stalls in the shacks. Lobo also cites other factors impacting tourism, such as the war in Ukraine, the lack of younger foreign tourists, and conflict between cab aggregators and local taxi operators.
Poor governance and mediocre short-sighted politics are destroying the paradise that Goa was as its environment, water table, culture and way of life is drastically threatened by tourism and migration, points out Ramesh Menon.
Travel firms expect package prices to rise by 5 to 10 per cent, depending on destination and inclusions.
'These beach shacks were meant to protect the employment of local Goans who in turn would showcase Goan cuisine and culture on the beaches of Goa.'
Adding to the troubles of former Goa minister Fransisco Pacheco, booked in connection with the death of his close friend, CBI has registered a case against him for allegedly acquiring US visas on forged documents.
'We have created massive infrastructure in the past six years.'
While wellness-related facilities and activities used to be considered luxury offerings, hospitality industry executives note that it has now become a mainstream expectation among guests.
4.5 million weddings are expected across India.
Abu Farhan Azmi, son of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, has denied brandishing a weapon in a fight in Goa, calling the incident a "small thing" that got out of hand. He maintains he is not against the coastal state and has been visiting Goa for 20 years. Azmi's father has recently faced criticism for comments praising Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Travellers are turning concerts into full-fledged weekend getaways, giving rise to the 'gigcation' -- a short, experience-led micro-holiday.
Strong demand for cultural and spiritual hubs is expected for destinations like Varanasi, Kolkata during Durga Puja, and Pushkar for the camel fair, besides leisure destinations like Goa, Udaipur, Jaipur and Coorg.
Unfazed by the controversy over his comments on the gangrape of two Delhi-based women in Goa, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar on Saturday maintained it was a "small incident" and that it occurs where tourism flourishes.
This instruction forms part of an advisory issued by the Goa tourism department for tourists and the set of directives is aimed to protect the privacy of travellers
Veteran politician Satyapal Malik, who served as governor of multiple states and later became a vocal critic of the government, has died at the age of 79.
GoAir has tied up with Goa Tourism Development Corporation to promote tourism to Goa and to and to develop a common brand GoGoa.
The MLA pointed out that there is already a ban on the consumption of alcohol in four other states, and Goa should also join the list.
Tourists will either have to carry COVID-19 negative certificates to enter the state, or will have to get tested at the border and undergo quarantine at a state-run facility till their results arrive.
Plan your day trekking, camping, swimming, bird-watching around these spots.
'...than by the calendar.' Indian travellers are no longer restricting their getaways to summer or winter holidays.
ITC Hotels Ltd on Wednesday reported a 53 per cent jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 133.71 crore in the June quarter, on the back of higher revenue. The company, which had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 87.16 crore in the first quarter last fiscal, said it is targeting to reach 220 operational hotels and more than 20,000 keys by 2030.
Goa is expecting around 40,000 foreign tourists to celebrate their Christmas and New Year in the coastal state this year, according to officials.
The Indian Navy has inducted a traditionally-built stitched ship, named INSV Kaundinya, at the Karwar naval base in Karnataka. The ship is a recreation of a fifth-century vessel and is named after Kaundinya, a legendary Indian mariner who sailed across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. The ship is a tangible symbol of India's long-standing maritime traditions and its induction marks a culmination of a project celebrating India's rich shipbuilding heritage. The INSV Kaundinya will embark on a trans-oceanic voyage along the ancient trade route from Gujarat to Oman later this year.
A 75-year-old French actor has alleged she is being held "hostage" in her house at Calangute in North Goa since earlier this week over a property dispute and finds herself in a "dangerous situation".
Estimates of decline in arrivals vary from 30-50 per cent. Rouble fell to 80 against the dollar on Tuesday, but settled around 72 against the dollar its steepest fall in sixteen years.
Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told the state legislative assembly on Monday that the government is considering Playboy's proposal to set up a club at Candolim beach, while responding to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Michael Lobo on the floor of the House.
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