Goa Sees 1.08 Cr Tourists in 2025, Foreign Arrivals Cross 5 Lakh

Goa has reinforced its position as India’s most popular holiday destination in 2025, recording 1.08 crore tourist arrivals , including over five lakh foreign visitors , according to official data released by the state Tourism Department. The state hosted 1,02,84,608 domestic tourists and 5,17,802 foreign tourists , taking the total to 1,08,02,410 . Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the government is now focusing on promoting quality tourism , diversifying source markets and advancing Goa’s long-term vision of Regenerative Tourism , aimed at ensuring tourism growth benefits local communities, the environment and the economy.

Goa’s sustained dominance is attributed to its unique “complete holiday” appeal beaches, nightlife, water sports, global cuisine, flea markets and heritage attractions such as forts and Portuguese-era churches making it attractive for both short domestic breaks and longer international leisure trips. The state also benefits from high repeat tourism, with visitors returning for festivals, vibrant leisure culture and an ecosystem of stays ranging from luxury resorts to budget homestays. This destination maturity has helped Goa stay ahead even as other coastal regions expand tourism offerings.

A major driver of the 2025 tourism surge has been stronger connectivity and improved destination readiness. The enhanced role of Manohar International Airport at Mopa has significantly boosted Goa’s inbound tourism potential. In 2025, Goa handled 1,784 international scheduled flights , carrying 2,35,798 foreign tourists , with Mopa accounting for 1,141 flights and Dabolim 643 flights , underlining the airport’s growing role in attracting overseas travellers and expanding global links.

While charter flights continue to support foreign arrivals, their volumes remain below earlier peaks. In 2025, Goa received 189 charter flights , bringing 40,336 foreign tourists , reflecting a long-term dip from the pre-Covid high charter years. Still, officials note that charter operations are now split between both Dabolim and Mopa , keeping the channel active while the stronger revival is being driven through scheduled international flights.

Cruise tourism continues to complement Goa’s profile as a leisure destination. In 2025, the state received 37 cruise vessels , bringing in 51,510 passengers , including 10,086 foreign and 41,424 domestic cruise tourists, showing how sea-based travel is becoming an additional support pillar for footfalls, especially among domestic visitors.

Tourism is not only central to Goa’s identity but also to its economic engine. Official estimates indicate that tourism contributes around 16.43% to Goa’s GSDP. With Goa’s GSDP estimated at ₹1,21,309 crore (2024–25 BE) , this implies tourism’s annual economic contribution is roughly ₹19,930 crore , or about ₹20,000 crore , highlighting the sector’s deep revenue and employment linkages.

Goa’s tourism boom is also aligned with the wider global revival of travel. UN Tourism has reported that international tourism reached around 1.4 billion arrivals in 2024 , representing 99% recovery of pre-pandemic levels, indicating that the world’s tourism ecosystem is nearly fully back on track. India too is benefiting from this rebound, though official data shows the country still accounts for about 1.45% of global international tourist arrivals , suggesting significant room to expand inbound tourism through better branding, infrastructure and visitor facilitation.

As Goa charts its next phase, the state is signalling a shift from crowd-led tourism to balanced, sustainable growth , backed by improved international connectivity, cruise expansion, and regeneration-focused planning. With global travel momentum returning strongly, Goa’s 2025 performance offers a template for other states: tourism leadership today depends not just on footfall, but on quality experiences, stronger connectivity, responsible destination management, and economic value creation for local communities .