Industry body says January surge shows growing impact of business and sports tourism
High-end events such as the India Energy Week and the World Legends Pro T20 League have given a strong push to Goa’s tourism sector, according to the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG). The association said that MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), mega events and festivals are now emerging as key drivers of tourism growth.
TTAG President Jack Sukheja said January 2026 turned out to be an exceptionally good month for tourism in the State, with many segments seeing healthy growth. He said small and mid-scale hotels, in particular, showed a clear recovery after a dull phase.
He said the rise in tourism was largely due to two major events — the India Energy Week held from January 26 to 30, which brought around 4,500 high-end delegates, and the World Legends Pro T20 League, which concluded on February 4 and attracted large domestic and international crowds.
Sukheja said these events clearly highlight the potential of business and sports tourism in Goa. “The biggest shift in tourism is coming from MICE, mega events and festivals. January 2026 has shown what can be achieved, and this momentum must be continued,” he said.
He praised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for supporting large-scale events and credited Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte for promoting sports tourism.
Welcoming the government’s decision to make it mandatory for guesthouses in housing societies and residential colonies to obtain a no-objection certificate from the society or 50 per cent of residents, Sukheja said the move would help improve regulation and ensure peace of mind for locals.
TTAG also pointed out that tourism showed steady recovery throughout 2025.
Sukheja added that the government must now focus on long-pending issues such as technology integration in transport services, a single-window clearance system for events, and better waste management to sustain long-term growth.
