Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 12: Goa witnessed a strong 10.5% rise in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, with 28.5 lac domestic and international travellers visiting the state between January and March, up from 25.8 lakh during the same period last year, according to the tourism department.

Officials attributed the surge to improved international air connectivity and newly introduced tourism attractions. However, the department anticipates a possible slowdown in the April-June quarter due to regional uncertainties affecting travel sentiment.

"April usually sees a dip post-Easter, while May benefits from school holidays. But this year, forward bookings have shown mixed signals," tourism director Kedar Naik said. He added that meetings have been held with key stakeholders across hospitality, travel, transport, and alternative accommodations to address potential booking gaps and devise collaborative solutions.

Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte credited the Q1 growth to focused marketing and coordination. “Our Q1 success is not accidental — it is a result of deep partnerships, strategic planning, and consistent market outreach,” he said, noting that efforts are underway to formalise the alternate stay segment to better track tourist data.

For the full year of 2024, Goa received 9.9 million domestic and 460,000 foreign tourists — a 22% and 3% increase respectively over 2023. October to December 2024 alone saw a 38% spike in tourist arrivals.

With tourism contributing 16.4% to Goa’s economy, the department is now pushing monsoon packages and targeting digital nomads and conscious travellers to ensure year-round engagement, especially in the Middle-Eastern markets.