Goa Records Highest Tourist Footfall at 1.08 Crore in 2025

The Goa government’s focus remains on promoting quality tourism, diversifying markets and advancing the coastal state’s Regenerative Tourism vision, ensuring growth translates into long-term benefits for local communities, environment and economy, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Sunday.

According to data released by the state Tourism Department on Sunday, 1,02,84,608 domestic tourists and 5,17,802 foreign tourists were recorded in Goa in 2025, making a total of 1,08,02,410 tourists.

It was stated that foreign tourists arriving via charter flights play an important role in tourism to Goa, especially from its traditional source markets.

The data showed that tourist arrivals to Goa, known for its picturesque beaches, showed different phases of growth, decay and recovery over the years.

The state welcomed 68,95,234 local and 8,90,459 foreign tourists in 2017, making a total of 77,85,693 tourists.

According to the data, moderate growth continued in 2018 and 2019 (before COVID-19) and total arrivals reached 80,15,400 and 80,64,400 respectively.

It was stated that this upward trend (post-COVID-19) continues in 2023 and 2024 and total arrivals are 86,28,162 and 1,04,09,196 respectively.

On the international arrival front (foreign tourists), in 2017, Goa received 1,024 charter flights carrying 2,49,374 foreign tourists; this number gradually decreased to 799 flights and 2,16,738 tourists in 2019.

The ministry said the commissioning of Manohar International Airport (at Mopa in North Goa) is reflected in the data for 2023, where charter operations are recorded at both Mopa and Dabolim airports with a total of 356 flights and 72,795 tourists.

“In 2024, charter arrivals amounted to 266 flights and 58,680 tourists. By 2025, Goa took 189 charter flights with operations divided between Dabolim and Mopa airports, bringing 40,336 foreign tourists.” he said.

Khaunte said Goa’s tourism performance as reflected in annual statistics clearly demonstrates the resilience of the sector and the effectiveness of the government’s continuous efforts towards structured and balanced tourism growth.

“The steady increase in domestic tourist arrivals, gradual revival of foreign tourism across charter, scheduled international flights and cruise segments, along with the increasing role of Manohar International Airport, underlines the state’s improved connectivity and destination readiness,” he said.

Khaunte said foreign tourists arriving via international scheduled flights have been continuously contributing to Goa’s inbound tourism.

“In 2017, 2,460 international flights operated from Dabolim Airport, carrying 3,35,573 foreign tourists. This number gradually decreased until 2021, when only 265 flights and 11,971 tourists were recorded due to travel restrictions.”

A steady recovery has begun with 1,135 flights and 1,34,922 tourists in 2022. “The commencement of operations of Mopa Airport has become evident from 2023, when both airports operate international flights, with a total of 1,416 flights and 1,95,067 tourists,” he said.

By 2024, these figures have increased to 1,546 flights carrying 1,95,990 tourists, the Minister said.

“According to 2025 data, a total of 1,784 international (non-charter) flights were carried out via Dabolim (643 flights) and Mopa (1,141 flights) and 2,35,798 foreign tourists were transported.”

On cruise tourism through Mormugao Port in South Goa, the minister said the state continues to complement its tourism profile with recorded arrivals through both foreign and domestic cruise ships.

“In 2017, Goa hosted 34 cruise ships carrying 40,822 foreign passengers. Cruise arrivals peaked at 63,606 foreign passengers in 2019 before falling sharply during the pandemic period,” he said.

The minister noted the gradual resumption of cruise operations in 2022, when five ships brought 12,856 passengers, including both domestic and foreign tourists.

“While a significant increase was observed in 2023 with 52 ships and 58 thousand 603 passengers, this was followed by 50 ships and 66 thousand 555 passengers in 2024,” he said.

According to 2025 figures, 37 cruise ships came to Goa and brought a total of 51 thousand 510 passengers, of which 10 thousand 86 were foreign and 41 thousand 424 were domestic tourists.