Goa hits 1 crore tourists, foreigners still lag

Goa has officially crossed the one-crore mark in total tourist arrivals, powered by a powerful surge in domestic travel. However, international tourism has yet to return to its pre-pandemic strength, with foreign arrivals still well below their 2017 peak.According to data released by the tourism department and cited by TOI, Goa’s overall visitor numbers reached an all-time high in 2025, even as key international segments continued to struggle.126462149Domestic Tourism Drives Goa’s Record Visitor NumbersThe biggest growth has come from Indian travellers. In 2017, Goa recorded 68.9 lakh domestic tourists. By 2025, that figure had climbed to over 1 crore, pushing total tourist arrivals to nearly 1.1 crore.This boom in domestic travel has become the backbone of Goa’s tourism economy, helping the state recover strongly after the pandemic.Foreign Tourist Arrivals Remain Well Below 2017 LevelsWhile total arrivals have grown, international tourism tells a different story. As per TOI, Goa received 8.9 lakh foreign tourists in 2017, but that number dropped to around 5.2 lakh in 2025, a fall of nearly 42%.This decline is significant, as foreign tourists traditionally spend more and support winter tourism, beach resorts, and international travel-linked businesses.Charter Flight Tourism Sees the Sharpest CollapseThe steepest fall has been in charter flights, which were once the heart of Goa’s winter tourism season.In 2017, 1,024 charter flights brought in almost 2.5 lakh foreign tourists. In 2025, this fell dramatically to just 189 flights carrying 40,336 passengers.Even after the launch of Manohar International Airport at Mopa, combined charter traffic through both Mopa and Dabolim has continued to shrink.Scheduled International Flights Show Partial RecoveryScheduled international flights have fared better than charter services but have still not fully bounced back.As reported by TOI, scheduled flights brought nearly 3.4 lakh foreign tourists in 2017. In 2025, the number stood at around 2.4 lakh.Mopa has emerged as the main international gateway, handling 1,141 international flights in 2025, compared with 643 flights at Dabolim.Cruise Tourism Shifts Towards Domestic TravellersCruise tourism is also changing. In 2017, Goa recorded over 40,800 foreign cruise passengers. By 2025, that number dropped to just 10,086.Total cruise passengers in 2025 stood at 51,510, but the majority are now Indian travellers, showing a clear shift in the cruise market’s demographics.Tourism Department Highlights Infrastructure and Connectivity GainsTourism director Kedar Naik told TOI that the data reflects steady post-pandemic recovery, especially in domestic tourism. He said improved connectivity through Mopa and Dabolim airports, along with better infrastructure and destination management, has supported the sector’s revival.A tourism department official added that international flights declined sharply during travel restrictions in 2021 but have been gradually recovering since 2022.Goa’s Tourism Outlook Remains Positive Despite Foreign DipTourism minister Rohan Khaunte struck an optimistic note, saying Goa’s tourism sector has shown strong resilience. He pointed to rising domestic arrivals and the gradual revival of international travel as signs that Goa is well prepared for future growth.However, the data makes one thing clear: while Goa’s beaches are fuller than ever, the state’s global tourism appeal still has some ground to recover.Inputs from TOI