PANJIM: The Goa Tourism Department has tightened regulations for the hospitality and water sports sectors following a series of fire incidents and regulatory violations, while extending the deadline for registration and renewal compliance to October 31.
Announcing the measures on World Tourism Day, the department said Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) would be compulsory for hotels, homestays, private shacks and other hospitality operations.
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Operators will also have to provide proof of property ownership or legal leases. Private shacks and tourist huts in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas must produce valid CRZ permissions and site plans, while hotels and water sports operators will require mandatory third-party insurance.
The department said several B-category hotels had been misregistered as C-category properties, while temporary shacks were being used illegally as nightclubs, accommodation units and air-conditioned spaces beyond permitted land uses.
The measures follow the December 6, 2025 fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which killed 25 people, the April 4 Arambol Beach fire that destroyed temporary shacks, the April 16 blaze at a beachside resort near Ajoba Temple, Ashwem, which damaged six luxury cottages, and the September 11 fire in tourist huts at Anjuna.
The department said it would maintain ease of doing business while enforcing compliance. “Category A and B hotels will now be eligible for 5-year registration terms, subject to annual self-declarations and compliance affidavits. Standard property renewals will be processed within 10 days provided all safety and fire compliance requirements are satisfied,” department officials said.
The department, along with the Captain of Ports and local associations, will complete zone demarcations within 7 to 8 days to regulate kayaking and water sports safely away from high-risk shipping lines.
The long-awaited MICE Bureau (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) will also be fully operational within 15 days, with a single-window portal for event permissions and registrations to eliminate administrative delays.
