Goa has once again achieved a monumental tourism milestone, with total visitor numbers officially crossing the 1 crore mark in 2025. However, a detailed examination of the official statistics reveals a sharply contrasting picture for the state's crucial international tourism segment, which continues to struggle in its post-pandemic recovery.
Domestic Boom Masks International Slump
The data released by the state's tourism department paints a story of two diverging trends. On one hand, the domestic market is experiencing an unprecedented boom. The number of Indian tourists visiting Goa skyrocketed from 68.9 lakh in 2017 to a record-breaking 1 crore in 2025. This surge single-handedly propelled the state's total tourist footfall to an all-time high of nearly 1.1 crore travellers.
On the other hand, the international segment presents a starkly different reality. Foreign tourist arrivals are finding it difficult to regain their pre-pandemic momentum. The figures show that in 2025, Goa welcomed only 5.2 lakh foreign visitors. This number is a staggering nearly 42% below the 2017 level, when the state hosted 8.9 lakh international tourists.
Charter Flight Collapse and Scheduled Flight Resilience
The most dramatic decline is visible in the charter flight sector, which was historically the backbone of Goa's peak season winter tourism. In 2017, a total of 1,024 charter flights landed in the state, bringing in close to 2.5 lakh tourists. By 2025, this segment had collapsed to a mere 189 flights carrying just 40,336 passengers.
This decline persisted despite the operationalisation of the new Manohar International Airport (Mopa) alongside the existing Dabolim facility. Combined charter traffic has continued to slide annually since the pandemic recovery phase began.
The scheduled international flight segment showed more resilience, though it also did not achieve a full recovery. In 2017, scheduled flights brought nearly 3.4 lakh foreign visitors to Goa. In 2025, that figure was recorded at nearly 2.4 lakh. Notably, Mopa Airport has rapidly become the primary gateway for these travellers, handling 1,141 international flights in 2025, compared to Dabolim's 643 flights.
Shifting Demographics in Cruise Tourism
The changing landscape is also evident in cruise tourism. While the total number of cruise passengers remained robust at 51,510 in 2025, the demographic has flipped. The vast majority are now domestic travellers. Foreign cruise passengers, who numbered over 40,822 in 2017, accounted for only 10,086 arrivals in 2025.
Tourism Director Kedar Naik highlighted the broader recovery trajectory, stating, "The consistent growth in domestic tourism, the return of international charter operations, increased international flight movements through both Dabolim and Mopa airports, and the steady contribution of cruise tourism reflect coordinated efforts in infrastructure development, connectivity enhancement, and destination management."
Despite the challenges in the foreign segment, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte expressed optimism. He pointed to the sector's "resilience," emphasizing that the steady rise in domestic arrivals and the gradual revival of international segments, supported by improved connectivity via Mopa, underline the state's ongoing "destination readiness."
