Goa notifies wellness ayurveda and yoga policy to ensure standards across centres

Panaji: To ensure the safety of tourists and crack down on unethical activities, the tourism department has notified the Goa Wellness, Ayurveda and Yoga Policy, 2026, establishing a formal regulatory and accreditation framework for all spas, eco-retreat hotels, wellness centres, Ayurveda clinics, and yoga schools operating within the state.

At the centre of the framework is a tiered Goa wellness quality label system, under which facilities will be assessed and ranked based on compliance and service quality. This will apply even to yoga centres or wellness centres that are part of already registered hotels, resorts, retreats, or integrated tourism facilities.

A dedicated wellness, ayurveda and yoga committee will serve as the apex body overseeing accreditation and certification across the state, with physical inspections being conducted on a quarterly basis. While accreditation is formally voluntary, unaccredited centres will be excluded from all state-led marketing and tourism initiatives, said tourism director Kedar Naik.

Accreditation can be suspended or withdrawn for non-compliance, he said.

The policy covers Ayurveda centres, yoga and meditation studios, holistic wellness centres, integrated wellness resorts, and nature-based retreat facilities. Beauty salons, cosmetic clinics, gyms, physiotherapy centres without structured wellness programmes, and religious institutions offering yoga solely as part of spiritual practice are excluded.

“The state envisions a structured wellness tourism ecosystem integrating preventive healthcare, traditional systems of medicine, holistic therapies, lifestyle wellness, and nature-based experiences, while supporting local livelihoods and promoting balanced development of hinterland and rural areas,” said Naik.

Through the policy, the tourism department wants to position Goa as a nationally- and internationally-recognised wellness destination while deterring unauthorised and non-compliant operators. The department also wants to promote employment and local entrepreneurship in rural and hinterland areas and align the sector with both the Goa tourism master plan and national Ayush frameworks.