Goa witnessing steady rise in tourist arrivals: Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte

Goa Sees Steady Rise in Tourist Arrivals

Goa's Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday asserted that the state is witnessing a steady rise in tourist arrivals, contrary to claims of a decline made in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Responding to Calangute MLA Michael Lobo during Question Hour, Khaunte categorically denied any drop in tourism figures and highlighted a strong upward trend in the sector.

“Flights and hotels are almost full with tourists coming to Goa. We Goans can see the growth happening,” he said, stressing that both state and central government efforts have significantly bolstered the sector.

Robust Numbers for January–June 2025

Between January and June 2025, Goa recorded a total of 57,12,758 tourist arrivals, including 34,64,490 domestic tourists via Dabolim International Airport and 22,48,268 via Mopa’s Manohar International Airport. International arrivals stood at 3,25,835, with 1,15,645 tourists landing at Dabolim and 2,10,190 at Mopa. Khaunte noted that both airports have consistently reported high footfalls, while hotel occupancy has ranged between 70% to 100% throughout the year.

The data, he said, has been collected through the Tourism Information Management Enterprise (TIME) software—mandated for use by all hotels in the state to report and register guest occupancy. “Every hotel is using the TIME software. This data is real, transparent, and consolidated through technology,” Khaunte emphasized.

Comparison with Pre-COVID Tourism

Presenting a comparative analysis, Khaunte outlined Goa’s strong post-COVID recovery. In 2019, the state registered 71,27,287 domestic and 9,37,113 international tourists, totaling 80,64,400. In 2024, the numbers rose significantly to 99,41,285 domestic and 4,67,911 international tourists, making a total of 1,04,09,196 arrivals.

This represents a 39.48% increase in domestic tourism and a 50% recovery in international tourism compared to pre-pandemic levels. “Goa has bounced back stronger than ever. These numbers clearly show that tourism is thriving,” he stated.

MLA Michael Lobo also acknowledged the minister’s efforts and commended the positive developments in Goa’s tourism sector.

Countering Misinformation and Expanding Global Reach

Taking aim at misinformation spread by what he termed as "paid influencers" from outside the state, Khaunte said, “They take money to create noise and circulate false narratives. But when we present official data, none of them have countered it. If there is a decline, show the proof. We have nothing to hide—data speaks for itself.”

He called on Goans to support the state’s tourism resurgence and help build a constructive narrative, underlining that Goa’s recovery has outpaced several other Indian states.

Khaunte also shared that Goa is expanding its global outreach by targeting new international markets such as Poland, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, aided by direct flights and promotional roadshows. “Goa is now linked to several parts of the world,” he said, noting that the Department of Tourism is working with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to further consolidate international arrival data for public dissemination.

"Tourism in Goa is on the right path," the minister concluded, urging all stakeholders and citizens to support the sector’s growth and avoid being swayed by baseless negativity.