Goa’s Rising International Tourism

Goa is drawing travellers from new international destinations through charter flights. Here’s what tourists need to know:

The Goa Tourism Department has announced that the state is increasingly attracting international travellers from various countries. In a media statement, the department highlighted that new charter flights from key markets, including Moscow and Ekaterinburg in Russia, London, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, are boosting international arrivals.

A Polish charter flight is scheduled to arrive in Goa on November 8. These flights highlight Goa’s attractions beyond beach tourism, bringing visitors to the state’s beautiful hinterlands and popular destinations like Dudhsagar Falls.

The tourism department spokesman said that to enhance international accessibility, Goa is focused on securing better direct connectivity with key overseas markets and is collaborating with major airlines and international travel platforms.

“However, establishing robust direct international connectivity requires further support from the Government of India, which we are actively seeking to make Goa an even more attractive, accessible, and globally connected destination,” he added.

The spokesman indicated that global travel experienced significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected foreign tourist numbers worldwide; however, Goa’s international tourism is gradually recovering.

“In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals rose to over 4,50,000, a significant increase from pandemic lows, as travel restrictions eased and global mobility improved,” he said.

The department reported that Goa attracted more than 8 million domestic visitors in 2023.

The spokesperson also minimized comparisons between Goa’s destinations and countries like Sri Lanka, stating that such comparisons can create a misleading perspective.

“Goa does face some challenges. For example, limited scheduled international air connectivity. The state government is working closely with the Centre to relook at point of call and additional seat entitlement for Goa, to establish more robust international connections,” he said.