Team Goemkarponn
DABOLIM: I Amid speculations of a drop in tourist footfalls during the peak Christmas season, Goa International Airport Director M C Jayarajan has revealed data indicating a significant rise in domestic passengers compared to last year.
“The flights to Goa were full, and domestic tourist footfalls have increased. Statistics show we handled 1.20 lakh (1,20,559) domestic passengers and 683 flights in the last ten days of December this year. This is a substantial jump compared to the 94,629 passengers and 559 flights during the same period last year,” Jayarajan stated.
While domestic tourism saw a sharp rise, international footfalls saw a slight dip. “We handled 27 international flights and 4,721 international passengers this year compared to 39 flights and 6,537 passengers last year during the same period,” he added.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had recently dismissed claims of a decline in tourist numbers, attributing such reports to a smear campaign against Goa’s tourism sector. “Some social media influencers are spreading false news about Goa tourism. These are paid campaigns to damage our tourism brand. In reality, Goa was overcrowded this season,” said Khaunte.
The data from Dabolim Airport underscores Goa’s enduring appeal, especially for domestic travelers, even as authorities work to address challenges in the international segment.
