For the past few years, the discourse has been about the decline of foreign tourists in Goa. The tourism minister has been quoted as saying that participation in international road shows and global expos is to woo foreign tourists. The Tourism Department has earmarked Rs7.7 crore for its latest round of international roadshows targeting eight specific global markets. However, the State has seen dwindling numbers of international tourists in recent years.
The latest quarterly figures released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) paint a worrying picture for Goa’s international air connectivity. The April–June quarter, traditionally seen as a holiday and leisure travel window, saw a sharp fall in overseas passenger traffic at both of the State’s airports. International passenger traffic plunged by 69 per cent at Dabolim Airport and 42 per cent at Manohar International Airport, Mopa.
The decline is particularly alarming when viewed against the national trend. International passenger traffic across the country fell by 10 per cent, while major metro airports saw relatively modest changes. Bengaluru recorded a decline of 3.9 per cent, Mumbai 5.3 per cent, while Delhi remained broadly stable. Against this backdrop, the collapse in Goa’s international numbers points to a much deeper problem.
Several factors appear to have contributed to the downturn. Indian carriers saw international passenger volumes fall by 27 per cent, reducing their market share from 46 per cent to 37 per cent. Capacity cuts by domestic airlines have hit point-to-point regional routes particularly hard. Air India Express and SpiceJet, for instance, recorded steep declines of 51 per cent and 56 per cent respectively, amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia, rising aviation turbine fuel costs and continuing operational pressures.
For a State whose economy is closely tied to tourism, the decline is alarming. Foreign tourists generally stay longer and spend more than domestic short-haul visitors, with their money flowing through a wide network of local businesses. Beach shack operators, taxi drivers, small hotels and guesthouses could feel the consequences of a prolonged decline. If international services do not recover before the peak winter season, many businesses may come under serious financial pressure.
The 69 per cent fall at Dabolim is particularly striking and once again fuels the operational challenge which has been debated time and again. Since the opening of Mopa, Dabolim has witnessed a gradual migration of international flights, and if the trend continues, the airport risks losing much of the long-haul connectivity that has traditionally linked South Goa with European charter markets and Middle Eastern transit hubs.
Dabolim’s dwindling international air traffic would not only raise questions about sustainability, but also about implications for the economy of South Goa. Mopa, meanwhile, is facing its own difficulties. Despite being developed to expand Goa’s aviation capacity, it too recorded a 42 per cent fall in international passenger traffic. The two-airport model was expected to strengthen Goa’s connectivity and create room for growth. Instead, at least for now, it appears to be dividing a limited international market between two airports.
Goa needs a coordinated strategy to restore and expand its international connectivity before the coming tourism season. The government should press for greater flexibility in bilateral point-of-call approvals, enabling foreign carriers, particularly from Europe and the Middle East, to operate direct services to Goa. Such connectivity would help offset the capacity reductions by Indian airlines.
Without timely and focused intervention to protect and expand international routes, Goa risks losing valuable foreign tourist traffic to competing destinations across Southeast Asia and beyond.
