The Government of Goa actively participated in the Western Region Civil Aviation Ministers’ Conference held in Mumbai, organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India. This regional conference forms part of a broader national initiative aimed at strengthening Centre–State collaboration and advancing cooperative federalism to shape India’s evolving aviation growth strategy.
The Goa delegation was led by Minister for Tourism, Rohan A. Khaunte, under the guidance of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant. During the conference, the state presented a series of targeted proposals to synchronize Goa’s thriving tourism sector with the rapidly developing civil aviation landscape. The event witnessed the presence of key dignitaries including Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, along with senior officials and representatives from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Addressing the gathering, Minister for Tourism, Rohan A. Khaunte remarked, “Goa stands ready not just with infrastructure, but with intent. Aviation and tourism must grow hand in hand, creating jobs, regional integration, and international visibility. We look forward to partnering with the Centre to build a future-ready, inclusive aviation economy.” He further expressed his sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership, which has played a pivotal role in accelerating the transformation of India’s civil aviation sector into one of the world’s fastest-growing. He highlighted the significant impact of flagship initiatives such as Dekho Apna Desh and Chalo India, which have revitalized both domestic and inbound tourism. The Minister further emphasized that Goa is well-positioned to reap the benefits of this integrated and holistic growth.
He also extended his gratitude to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu ji for convening the regional conference and for his proactive efforts in fostering a collaborative national aviation ecosystem that recognizes States and Union Territories as equal partners. Khaunte reiterated Goa’s commitment to working in close coordination with the Centre to advance a shared vision focused on aviation-led tourism, skill development, and regional growth.
Goa’s key strategic submissions at the regional civil aviation conference focused on aligning national aviation policies with the unique requirements of tourism-centric states. The state strongly advocated for a tourism-oriented Open Skies policy to facilitate direct long-haul international connectivity, particularly to markets like Europe and the UK. Emphasizing the importance of international access, Goa proposed its inclusion in all future bilateral Air Service Agreement negotiations to unlock wide-body aircraft operations, which would further complement national campaigns such as Chalo India and Dekho Apna Desh.
Recognizing the growing need for aviation infrastructure, Goa urged the Centre to fast-track the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility on the 26 acres earmarked at Manohar International Airport in Mopa, alongside enabling the setup of a Flight Training Organization(FTO) to transform Goa into a regional aviation skilling hub. To encourage airline operations into tourism-heavy regions, Goa called for the introduction of a national incentive scheme that would ensure the commercial viability of both long-haul international and regional routes.
The state also highlighted the urgent need to reinstate key domestic sectors such as the Goa–Dehradun route, previously operational under the Dekho Apna Desh MoU with Uttarakhand, while requesting new regional connections to destinations like Kolhapur, Velankanni, and Tirupati. Goa sought support for the development of emerging aviation sectors, including helicopter connectivity, seaplane services, and drone innovation under the Drone Didi initiative. Plans for a dedicated Aero-Sports and Drone Innovation Hub were also shared, with a focus on integrating activities such as skydiving, hot air ballooning, drone racing, and microlight aviation.
Additionally, Goa proposed the creation of India’s first integrated air–sea tourism hub by leveraging the geographical proximity between Dabolim Airport and the Vasco Cruise Terminal, aiming to position the state as a pioneer in multimodal tourism infrastructure. Finally, Goa highlighted the success of its Aviation Skill Development Centre (ASDC), which has trained over 1,100 local youth in the past two years with near-total placement, showcasing a scalable model for employment and capacity building in the aviation sector.
The State also reiterated its commitment to the broader national vision of cooperative federalism and inclusive growth within the civil aviation sector. It commended the Ministry’s efforts in organizing regional dialogues that empower all States and Union Territories to participate as equal stakeholders in shaping India’s aviation trajectory.
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