The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a Government of Goa undertaking, organised the 1st Travel Agents Meet 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from the travel and tourism industry to strengthen collaboration and align strategies for promoting Goa as a diverse, experience-led destination.

The meet was attended by the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte; Chairman, GTDC Shri Kedar Naik; Managing Director, GTDC Shri Kuldeep Arolkar; General Manager, GTDC Shri Gavin Dias; Deputy General Manager (Hotels & Marketing) Shri Deepak Narvekar, along with all General Managers of GTDC. The event witnessed participation from 55 travel agents, OTAs and NTS operators, along with other stakeholders from the travel trade in Goa.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri Rohan A. Khaunte emphasised the importance of partnership with the travel trade in shaping Goa’s tourism growth. “Travel agents are our long-term partners in shaping Goa’s tourism growth story. As we move towards promoting quality tourism and diverse experiences beyond our beaches, collaboration with the travel trade becomes central to presenting Goa as a holistic, experience-rich destination. Our focus remains on balanced tourism growth that benefits local communities, strengthens livelihoods, and enhances visitor satisfaction,”

Addressing the gathering, Chairman, GTDC Shri Kedar J. Naik highlighted the pivotal role played by the travel trade in shaping destination experiences and market perception. “Travel agents play a crucial role in shaping the tourism journey of any destination. You are the first point of contact for travellers and the ones who translate a destination’s vision into real experiences. The confidence with which travellers choose Goa is closely linked to the trust they place in you, and that contribution is deeply appreciated,” he said. Emphasising GTDC’s role in ensuring balanced and inclusive tourism growth, he added, “GTDC carries the responsibility of ensuring that tourism growth is balanced, inclusive, and beneficial to the people of Goa. Our role goes beyond infrastructure or services; it is about creating an ecosystem where tourism supports livelihoods, preserves culture, and enhances visitor satisfaction. The Travel Agents Meet will now form a regular feature in our calendar as an annual outreach programme of Goa Tourism. Therefore, the Travel Agents Meet will now form a regular feature in our calendar as an annual outreach programme of Goa Tourism. We will also be organising a dedicated trade show in Gujarat to further strengthen our engagement in that key source market. Commencing this year, GTDC will introduce awards for the overall top-performing travel agent in India, along with recognition for the best-performing regional toppers. This structured recognition will honour measurable contribution and sustained partnership in promoting GTDC and Goa.”

Speaking on the occasion, Managing Director, GTDC; Shri Kuldeep Arolkar stated, “The Travel Agents Meet is an important platform to align our tourism products and services with market needs. Through continued engagement with the travel trade, GTDC aims to strengthen the collaboration of GTDC Residencies and its New Tourism Service, partners and destination experiences. Such interactions help us remain responsive to evolving traveller expectations and market dynamics.”

Expressing appreciation for the initiative, Shri Bipin Shah, Owner of Travel Shopee, welcomed the platform created for direct engagement with GTDC and the Department of Tourism. He stated, “This meet has been extremely encouraging for the travel trade. We are excited about the renewed focus on Goa Tourism hotels and new tourism services, and we will actively promote GTDC properties and tourism offerings in a much bigger way across our markets. I thank the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism and the Chairman, GTDC for creating such a meaningful platform for collaboration.”

Shri Srikant Sammath, State Coordinator, Goa – Tour Operators Association of India (TOAI), also appreciated the initiative and emphasised the importance of coordinated trade efforts. He remarked, “With structured coordination among tour operators across India, Goa can witness increased business transactions and stronger market penetration. Platforms like this help align the trade with the vision of the Government. I sincerely thank the Hon’ble Minister and the Chairman, GTDC for organising this meet, and I believe it should be institutionalised as an annual feature in Goa.”

As part of the programme, seven prominent tour operators were felicitated, including the President, Vice President and Goa Coordinator of the Tour Operators Association of India, representatives of Goa-based online travel agents, and NTS operators, in recognition of their contribution to promoting Goa as a preferred destination. The felicitation ceremony was facilitated by General Manager, GTDC Shri Gavin Dias, along with Senior Managers Shri Vishesh Naik and Shri Pravin Faldessai, while Deputy General Manager Deepak Narvekar announced the names of key travel agents during the felicitation proceedings.

The meet also facilitated an interactive exchange between GTDC officials and members of the travel trade on emerging markets, evolving traveller preferences, and collaborative promotion opportunities. Goa Tourism’s hotels, new tourism services and destination experiences were showcased, with a focus on strengthening global visibility through trade partnerships.

The Travel Agents Meet 2026 served as a platform for dialogue, exchange of perspectives and strengthening collaboration between Goa Tourism and the travel trade. The engagement reaffirmed the State’s commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders to position Goa as a preferred destination offering authentic, responsible and high-quality tourism experiences