Tourists abandon beautiful seaside dubbed country’s ‘party capital’ | Travel News | Travel
India’s beautiful state, known as the “party capital” of the country, was once a hotspot for foreign travellers, but they are now said to have abandoned it in favor of cheaper options. Located in the Konkan region on the country’s southwestern coast, Goa was a popular destination for holidaymakers from across Europe for decades and was particularly beloved by hippies in the 1960s and 70s.
It’s easy to see why when you see the incredible seafood, gorgeous beaches like Baga in North Goa, and the crescent-shaped Palolem Beach in the south. However, although visitors continue to arrive in droves, they are reportedly mostly local, with far fewer overseas sunchasers than you would have seen in years past.
Figures from the state’s tourism department support the notion that while domestic interest in visiting has increased, foreign tourism has fallen significantly.
Around 900,000 foreigners visited Goa in 2017, but over the next eight years, that number dropped to around half a million. BBC News reported. However, tourism from India has seen a marked increase, from 6.8 million in 2016 to over 10 million in 2025.
Foreign visitors form an important part of the local economy; Indian visitors tend to opt for hotel-related package deals that include meals, while a hotelier says they stay longer and are more likely to spend money on the local economy.
The ministry said overseas tourism has been disrupted due to the worrying geopolitical situation. Although it may have exacerbated the problem, it is believed to have been an issue before the US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February, which threw the Middle East into chaos and sent shockwaves through the global economy.
The COVID-19 pandemic, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and rising flight costs due to oil booms linked to the war in Iran are thought to mean people have less money to spend on trips.
India’s visa process also allegedly makes obtaining a visa more costly and time-consuming.
Other factors include a rise in hotel prices in Goa due to its growing popularity in India, high taxi fares due to local unions opposing ride-hailing app services, and superior price and availability of resorts in alternative destinations such as Thailand and Sri Lanka.
Ernest Dias, who sits on the Goa Tourism Department committee, said authorities in Goa were aware of the need to attract more foreign visitors and promotional tours were being organized in Europe to promote the overlooked seaside holiday.
