Panaji: Goa’s tourism department has announced plans to develop community-based tourism centres around 11 temples in the state over the next 36 months. The initiative, called Ekadasha Teertha, aims to empower local communities and create shared experiences between hosts and tourists. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte launched the initiative and highlighted the department’s vision for new tourism avenues based on sustainability and community engagement.
The 11 temples, which are located in eco-sensitive zones where development and construction restrictions apply, have been identified. According to Tourism Director Suneel Anchipaka, the Ekadasha Teertha campaign will be based on four pillars: spirituality, indigeneity, civilisational and cultural nationalism, and conscious tourism.
The department’s goal is to encourage sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and the local population. Khaunte mentioned that the initiative is part of a shift towards spiritual tourism, moving away from Goa’s beaches. Anchipaka added that it is also a response to competition from countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and large Indian states.
Under the Ekadasha Teertha project, the department will involve and engage with communities, particularly women-led groups, around the selected temples. Tourists will be encouraged to visit the temples, stay, learn from the local communities, and understand their way of life. This will provide an opportunity for the local communities to share their heritage and generate income from the venture.
The selection of the Ekadasha Teertha sites was done in consultation with the communities residing around these temples. Anchipaka stated that this aligns with the tourism department’s adoption of a ‘Regenerative Tourism’ model. The model, defined by the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), emphasizes the consideration of economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities.
Anchipaka emphasized the importance of developing mutual respect and appreciation between visitors and hosts. The tourism department is in discussions with entrepreneurs and innovators in the tourism sector to help local women and youth gain experience and become commercial partners in the Ekadasha Teertha initiative.
