PANAJI
Goa recorded around 1.08 crore tourist arrivals during the 2025 calendar year, with domestic tourists accounting for nearly 1.03 crore, final data released by the Tourism Department on Saturday reveals.
As per the data, the State received 1,02,84,608 domestic tourists and 5,17,802 foreign tourists in 2025, taking the total arrivals to 1,08,02,410.
The figures indicate that tourist arrivals in Goa have undergone distinct phases of growth, disruption and recovery over the years.
In 2017, the State recorded 77,85,693 arrivals including 68,95,234 domestic and 8,90,459 foreign tourists. Total arrivals rose to 80,15,400 in 2018 and 80,64,400 in 2019, before declining sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sector witnessed a recovery in subsequent years, with total arrivals increasing to 86,28,162 in 2023 and crossing the one-crore mark at 1,04,09,196 in 2024.
The department stated that foreign tourist arrivals through charter flights continued to form a significant component of inbound tourism. In 2017, Goa received 1,024 charter flights carrying 2,49,374 foreign tourists, which declined to 799 flights and 2,16,738 tourists in 2019.
Following the operationalisation of Manohar International Airport at Mopa, charter operations were recorded at both Dabolim and Mopa airports from 2023, with a combined total of 356 flights bringing in 72,795 tourists. Charter arrivals declined to 266 flights carrying 58,680 tourists in 2024, and further to 189 flights bringing in 40,336 foreign tourists in 2025.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte aaid the year-wise statistics reflected the resilience of Goa’s tourism sector and the impact of sustained efforts towards structured growth. “The steady rise in domestic tourism, the gradual revival of foreign arrivals across charter, scheduled international flights and cruise segments, along with the enhanced role of Manohar International Airport, indicated improved connectivity and destination preparedness. Our focus remains on quality tourism, market diversification and regenerative tourism,” he said.
Foreign tourist arrivals through scheduled international flights also showed a steady recovery. In 2017, 2,460 international flights operated through Dabolim Airport, carrying 3,35,573 foreign tourists. This declined to 265 flights and 11,971 tourists in 2021 during the pandemic.
Recovery began in 2022 with 1,135 flights and 1,34,922 tourists. In 2023, with both airports operational, 1,416 international flights carried 1,95,067 tourists. This increased to 1,546 flights and 1,95,990 tourists in 2024.
As per 2025 data, 1,784 international flights operated through the two airports -643 through Dabolim and 1,141 through Mopa -carrying 2,35,798 foreign tourists.
Cruise tourism continued to supplement overall arrivals. In 2017, Goa received 34 cruise vessels carrying 40,822 foreign passengers, with arrivals peaking in 2019 at 63,606 passengers. Cruise operations declined sharply during the pandemic and resumed in 2022 with five vessels bringing in 12,856 passengers.
In 2023, 52 vessels carried 58,603 passengers, followed by 50 vessels and 66,555 passengers in 2024. Provisional data for 2025 shows 37 cruise vessels called at Goa, bringing in 51,510 passengers, including 10,086 foreign and 41,424 domestic tourists.
