Daijiworld Media Network – Calangute
Calangute, May 22: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said Goa is laying the foundation to emerge as India’s preferred “work from home” and “work from beach” destination by promoting remote work, digital innovation and creative entrepreneurship.
Addressing the Goa Shackathon at Tito’s Lane in Baga, Sawant said changing work patterns and the aspirations of the younger generation had opened up new opportunities for the coastal state.
“Work has changed, aspirations have changed, and people are no longer only searching for jobs. Many are building ideas, creating brands and starting ventures while choosing careers that offer both purpose and freedom. The government must move with this change,” he said.
The Chief Minister stated that while Goa continues to remain a major tourism destination, the state is also preparing itself for new possibilities in the digital and creative economy.
He noted that the younger generation increasingly preferred flexibility, mental peace and creative work environments over conventional office spaces.
“Can Goa become the place where people choose to stay longer, work longer and build something meaningful? This opens a huge opportunity for Goa,” Sawant remarked.
Highlighting the importance of tourism to the state economy, he said Goa welcomed nearly 1.8 crore tourists in 2025 and recorded a 10 per cent rise in international tourist arrivals during the year.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said Goa’s tourism ecosystem and the work-from-home trend that gained momentum after the Covid pandemic had helped create a growing “digital nomad fraternity”.
“Work from home culture can become work from Goa. After Covid, work from home became work from Goa and later evolved into ‘workation-Goa’,” he said.
Khaunte added that such initiatives would benefit local communities, shack owners and creative professionals while strengthening Goa’s identity as both a tourism and technology hub.
The two-day Goa Shackathon has been organised by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa. The event has brought together founders, remote workers, designers, influencers, digital nomads, creators and students to network and exchange ideas.