Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Marking a decisive move away from blanket subsidies, the Goa government has introduced a new incentive framework that makes financial support for inbound tour operators strictly dependent on measurable outcomes.
The Department of Tourism has formally notified the “Inbound Tour Operators Incentive Scheme, 2026,” aimed at reviving international tourist inflows that have remained sluggish even as domestic tourism has bounced back strongly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the new policy, incentives will be awarded only on the basis of actual operational performance, with eligibility tied to verified international passenger arrivals and aircraft load factors. The scheme is designed to promote accountable, market-driven growth rather than offering assured financial assistance.
In the notification, Director of Tourism Kedar Naik acknowledged that while domestic travel to Goa has recovered robustly, the return of overseas visitors has been uneven. The document highlights limited international charter flight operations—particularly from new and underrepresented source markets—as a major constraint to growth.
The scheme seeks to address this gap by offering targeted incentives to inbound tour operators who can demonstrably increase charter operations in a sustainable manner. “Financial assistance will be linked solely to post-operational performance,” the notification stated, underscoring the government’s intent to reward results rather than promises.
The incentive framework applies exclusively to international charter flights landing at Goa International Airport, Dabolim (GOI), and Manohar International Airport, Mopa (GOX). It covers operations from existing charter markets, newly introduced international markets that have not previously operated at either airport, as well as charter flights operated during the monsoon season from June to September.
However, the scheme comes with stringent eligibility criteria. For existing markets and monsoon operations, incentives will be granted only for flights that exceed defined base-year benchmarks. Operators must also meet prescribed minimum passenger load factors, and at least 70 per cent of arriving passengers must stay in Goa for a minimum of seven days.
For evaluation purposes, the base year has been defined as the twelve-month period from January 1 to December 31 preceding the relevant incentive cycle. Any market introduced during one assessment year will be classified as an existing market in subsequent years.
The government has categorically ruled out any form of advance financial support. The notification clarifies that no upfront grants, fixed subsidies, or viability gap funding will be provided. Incentives will be released only after thorough verification of post-operation data.
The maximum incentive payable to any single operator has been capped at ₹35 lakh per year, while the overall annual allocation for the scheme has been set at ₹2 crore for the 2026–27 financial year.
The policy has been structured with a three-year time frame, with provisions for annual renewal subject to the discretion of the Tourism Department.
