Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s tourism sector has recorded a 6.23% overall growth in tourist arrivals from January to September 2025, signalling a strong start to the 2025–26 tourism season.
Announcing the figures, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said domestic arrivals rose by 5.36%, from 69.24 lakh in 2024 to 72.96 lakh in 2025, while international arrivals increased by 29.33%, from 2.59 lakh to 3.36 lakh during the same period. He said tourism contributes about 16.43% to Goa’s GDP and generates 40–45% of direct and indirect employment.
Khaunte highlighted that Goa recorded growth even during the monsoon months, reflecting the success of year-round tourism promotion initiatives.
Despite limited air capacity, Goa expanded its reach to new destinations like Ekaterinburg, Kazakhstan, Novosibirsk and Moscow, with 34 charter flights from Russia and Central Asia in October 2025 alone. The Minister also announced that TUI Airways will soon start direct flights from Manchester and Gatwick, expected to bring in 30,000–40,000 travellers, while efforts are on to tap markets in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Reiterating the government’s focus on responsible and sustainable tourism, Khaunte said shack operations and watersports activities began on time this year with improved regulation, while six shack licences were cancelled for sub-letting violations.
The Tourism Department will soon notify Aerosports and Wellness Tourism Policies under the Goa Beyond Beaches initiative, promoting eco, adventure, wedding, MICE, and wellness tourism and encouraging women-led enterprises and homestays.
To strengthen regulation, a verification drive has been launched for hotels with incorrect registrations, while renewals and new registrations have been made fully online.
Khaunte also announced two new local initiatives — a Certified Tourism Facilitator Programme (with 72 guides already certified) and a photography registration system with ID cards to prevent irregular practices. A new scheme for Goan beach photographers will be launched soon to promote local entrepreneurship.
Highlighting support from the Central Government, Khaunte said that ₹472 crore has been sanctioned in recent years for major tourism projects including Swadesh Darshan, Town Square, Unity Mall, and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Digital Museum. Moving forward, he said Goa aims to develop a concert economy as a new vertical to strengthen tourism infrastructure and create a vibrant entertainment legacy for the State.
“Goa’s tourism story is now about collaboration, responsibility, and innovation,” Khaunte said, adding that the department is shifting focus “from enforcement to empowerment” to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.
