Centered on Goa’s complex relationship with tourism, the panel brought together practitioners and local policymakers to examine the challenges faced by those who are both long-term residents and advocates for sustainable ecosystems. 

Goa’s tourism landscape serves diverse domestic and international visitors, but its rapid expansion has created an imbalance between tourists and residents, increasingly blurring the boundaries between public and private life. The discussion explored regenerative tourism as a way to decentralise tourism’s impacts, distribute economic benefits, and create more authentic visitor experiences while reducing pressure on tourism-intensive areas.

However, existing infrastructure continues to struggle with the pace and scale of tourism growth, revealing gaps in governance and coordination. Addressing these challenges requires stronger alignment between institutions, communities, tourism systems, and ecological limits.

The panel also emphasised the need to prioritise local communities and businesses, while developing civic spaces that can accommodate the parallel needs of residents and visitors. Housing pressures, short-term rentals, and neighbourhood transformation emerged as key concerns, along with communication gaps between communities and policymakers.

Ultimately, the discussion stressed the importance of understanding local context in tourism planning and recognising that sustainable tourism must protect not only Goa’s ecosystems and economy, but also the everyday quality of life of its residents.