Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Tourism data shows that nearly 19.88 lakh visitors reached Goa by rail between January and May 2026, representing a 6.8 per cent increase over the same period in 2025. The rise points to the growing popularity of rail as an affordable and convenient option for travellers visiting the coastal state.
In comparison, the state’s domestic aviation sector recorded a significant decline in June 2026. The number of domestic air passengers dropped to 455,993, down from 565,727 during the corresponding month last year, reflecting a 19.4 per cent year-on-year decrease. Goa was among the states that registered one of the sharpest falls in domestic air passenger traffic during the month.
The reduced air traffic also affected Goa’s presence in the national aviation rankings. None of the state’s routes featured among India’s ten busiest domestic flight sectors in June 2026. The list continued to be dominated by major metropolitan connections, with Mumbai–Delhi retaining the top spot, followed by Bengaluru–Delhi, Mumbai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Srinagar, and Kolkata–Delhi.
The latest figures indicate a changing travel pattern, with rail networks playing an increasingly important role in bringing tourists to Goa even as domestic air travel to the state weakens.
