UK tops list as Goa logs over 8.8 lakh foreign tourist stays

PANAJI
More than 8.8 lakh foreign tourist declarations have been filed in Goa since 2022, with visitors from the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States forming the largest share.
As per the data placed before the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister and Home Minister Pramod Sawant informed the House that 8,82,539 ‘C’ Forms — mandatory documents submitted by hotels and accommodation providers to record the stay of foreign nationals — were uploaded between January 2022 and February 24, 2026.
The figures, in response to a starred question by MLA Jit Arolkar, showed a steady rise in filings over the past four years, wherein 58,811 ‘C’ Forms were recorded in 2022, followed by 1,48,095 in 2023 and 2,70,030 in 2024. The number climbed further to 3,05,352 in 2025, while 1,00,251 forms had already been filed in the first weeks of 2026 till February 24.
The details further revealed that since 2014, the filing of ‘C’ Forms has been entirely online through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) portal, allowing hotels and guesthouses to upload details directly. Because of this centralised system, police station-wise or district-wise data is not available in the administrative module, the government said.
The nationality-wise breakdown of the declarations shows that tourists from the United Kingdom form the largest group, accounting for 2,07,209 visitors during the period covered. They were followed by Russian nationals at 1,81,191, while visitors from the United States numbered 83,905.
Germany also accounted for a substantial share with 42,130 visitors, while France recorded 27,601, Kazakhstan 25,071, Australia 24,401, and Israel 24,101.
Others included Canada (19,185), Poland (15,974), the Netherlands (13,306), Italy (11,876), Sweden (9,248) and Switzerland (8,515). Visitors from Asian countries such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea were also recorded, alongside smaller numbers from Gulf nations including Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The data also listed 1,27,319 visitors categorised under “others,” representing tourists from several additional countries.
However, the government declined to provide detailed information on duration of stay and specific locations of accommodation, stating that the information was “voluminous” and exempt from disclosure under Rule 37(11) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Goa Legislative Assembly.