In this insightful interview, Goa Tourism outlines its strategic roadmap for sustainable and inclusive growth amidst a remarkable 10.5% surge in tourist arrivals in Q1 2025. The discussion highlights the success of Goa’s multi-pronged approach—strengthening international connectivity, diversifying tourism experiences beyond beaches, and promoting regenerative tourism rooted in culture, ecology, and community. Key developments include expanded global outreach at events like ATM Dubai, improved accessibility through Manohar International Airport, and efforts to boost hinterland, spiritual, and agri-tourism. The Tourism Department also underscores its commitment to community empowerment, digital reputation management, and positioning Goa as a year-round destination through MICE infrastructure and monsoon tourism. By addressing affordability, enhancing service standards, and encouraging responsible tourism, Goa aims to balance growth with sustainability. Looking ahead to 2030, the state envisions a globally competitive tourism model that reflects Goa’s unique identity—harmonizing global aspirations with local heritage, environment, and inclusive development.
Q.1: Tourist Influx Surge: Goa witnessed a 10.5% increase in tourist arrivals in Q1 2025. What key strategies contributed to this growth, and how do you plan to sustain this momentum throughout the year?
Answer: Goa Tourism recorded a 10.5% year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals for Q1 2025, with 28,51,554 visitors compared to 25,80,155 in Q1 2024 — reflecting the success of a three-fold strategy focused on market promotion, international connectivity, and diversified experiences. Key aviation gains included Air India Express launching direct flights to Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, complementing its Dubai route, as a result of continued engagement with Gulf carriers and efforts to tap transit traffic through Middle Eastern hubs. Goa’s presence at leading global tourism platforms including WTM London, ITB Asia, Tashkent International Tourism Fair, and Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai has further expanded visibility. At WTM, Goa participated in the Chalo India Global Diaspora Initiative, aligning with its strategy to attract high-value travellers and cultural ambassadors, while at ATM, meetings with the Consul General of India and regional stakeholders bolstered Goa’s image as a premium entry point for leisure, culture, wellness, and family travel. On the domestic front, Goa’s repositioning through experiences like the Ekadasha Teertha spiritual circuit, wellness retreats, hinterland activities, and regenerative village tourism is drawing off-season interest, especially from Middle Eastern markets. Events such as Deep Parv, Raponkaracho Sea Food Festival, Chikhal Kalo, Sao Joao, Festavista, Spirit of Goa, and the Heritage Festival have amplified cultural tourism across the year. To sustain this momentum, the Department will continue to focus on year-round tourism, support offbeat experiences, and implement data-driven marketing initiatives.
Q.2: Diversification Beyond Beaches: With efforts to promote inland experiences like heritage trails and eco-tourism, how is the Tourism Department ensuring these initiatives resonate with both domestic and international travellers?
Answer: We have made significant efforts to promote hinterland experiences such as heritage trails, hinterland tourism and temple tourism. Initiatives like the Ekadasha Teertha and support for community-based festivals have enhanced the appeal of inland Goa. Training for local guides, multilingual content, and curated itineraries are being developed to ensure these offerings connect deeply with both domestic and international travellers.
To ensure inland experiences like heritage trails and eco-tourism resonate with both domestic and international travellers, the state offers immersive, community-driven experiences that highlight Goa’s rich cultural and natural heritage. From guided walks through heritage villages and spice plantations to forest trails, temple circuits, and adventure activities, each initiative is designed to foster authentic engagement. Local homestays, artisan crafts, and traditional cuisine offer travellers a deeper connection, while sustainability measures to ensure that growth remains inclusive, responsible, and true to Goa’s identity beyond its coastline.
Q.3: At the Great Indian Travel Bazaar 2025, Goa emphasized regenerative tourism. Can you elaborate on how this approach is being integrated into the state’s tourism framework?
Answer: Regenerative tourism focuses on leaving places better than we found them. Regenerative tourism in Goa goes beyond sustainability — it actively seeks to restore, enrich, and empower the local environment, culture, community and economy. Rooted in the idea of giving back more than we take, this approach is reflected in initiatives like the Ekadasha Teertha spiritual circuit, promotion of hinterland tourism, community-led festivals, and wellness-based retreats that celebrate Goa’s cultural and natural heritage. By integrating local livelihoods, encouraging conscious travel, and fostering partnerships with grassroots stakeholders, the Department of Tourism is shaping a tourism model that supports ecological balance, cultural revival, and economic inclusion ensuring that tourism in Goa becomes a force for long-term, meaningful impact.
Q.4: Manohar International Airport: Since its inauguration, how has the new airport influenced tourist accessibility and overall visitor experience in Goa?
Answer: Since its inauguration, Manohar International Airport (Mopa) has transformed Goa’s tourism landscape by significantly improving accessibility and enhancing the overall visitor experience. Strategically located in North Goa and operating round the clock without airspace constraints, the airport complements Dabolim by easing congestion especially during peak seasons and ensuring smoother travel flows for both domestic and international tourists. With a 27% growth in passenger traffic in 2024, driven by charter expansions and direct international routes like Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Poland and Georgia, Mopa has firmly positioned Goa as a globally connected, year-round destination. In recognition of its excellence, the airport was named Best Domestic Airport 2024 at Travel+Leisure India’s Best Awards.
More than just a transit point, Manohar International Airport offers a seamless blend of Goan culture and modern convenience. From curated local merchandise and art galleries to diverse regional cuisine, the airport reflects Goa’s unique identity. Equipped with modern amenities, flexible schedules, and e-Visa facilities, it caters to the evolving needs of today’s travellers.
Q.5: Agri-Tourism Regulations: With mandatory approvals now required for agri farms and spice plantations operating as tourist spots, how will this impact local farmers and the authenticity of rural tourism experiences?
Answer: Mandatory approvals bring transparency and help maintain standards. This directive aims to ensure legal compliance, promote transparency, and uphold standards within the tourism sector. This structured approach protects the interests of both tourists and farmers, ensuring an authentic, safe, and enriching rural experience.
Q.6: Community-Based Tourism: How is the Tourism Department involving local communities in tourism development to ensure inclusive growth and cultural preservation?
Answer : Local communities are central to Goa’s regenerative tourism approach, with inclusive growth and cultural preservation forming the foundation of all initiatives. The Department of Tourism is actively engaging communities through the training programs for women entrepreneurs, and the creation of Yuva Tourism Clubs across educational institutions. These clubs empower youth to become tourism ambassadors, participate in content creation, and contribute to festival planning ensuring that tourism development reflects local voices and traditions.
Women, particularly in rural areas, are being empowered through the Mahila Shakti initiative, which provides training and financial incentives to manage homestays. This not only fosters entrepreneurship but also strengthens community resilience and promotes economic self-reliance. Self Help Groups (SHGs) are being mobilized and integrated into tourism value chains ranging from local handicrafts and traditional cuisine, ensuring that grassroots participation translates into tangible benefits.
To strengthen the industry’s future workforce, Goa is also set to host the country’s largest hospitality skilling centre in collaboration with the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), reinforcing the state’s commitment to inclusive, skill-driven, and community-centric tourism development.
Q.7: ATM Dubai Participation: Goa showcased its tourism offerings at ATM Dubai 2025. What were the key takeaways from this event, and how do they influence Goa’s strategy to attract Middle Eastern tourists?
Answer: Goa’s participation at ATM Dubai 2025 marked a strategic step in strengthening its presence in the Middle Eastern market. The state was effectively repositioned as a culturally rich, year-round destination rooted in the principles of regenerative tourism—one that celebrates culture, community, economy, and environment. The Goa Pavilion drew significant attention through immersive experiences, live cultural performances, local handicrafts, and showcases of authentic offerings such as heritage walks, backwater explorations, organic farm visits, and artisanal markets. These elements resonated strongly with Middle Eastern travellers seeking soulful, meaningful, and family-friendly experiences.
The event saw encouraging interest in Goa’s luxury and wellness tourism, with particular appreciation for its lush monsoon landscapes, vibrant hinterlands, and diverse culinary traditions. The Department of Tourism engaged extensively with stakeholders from the GCC region, with plans now underway to enhance Arabic language content, strengthen cultural familiarity, and improve direct flight connectivity. With Manohar International Airport (Mopa) now offering direct flights from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi, Goa is more accessible than ever.
Q.8: With the emphasis on Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, what infrastructure developments are underway to position Goa as a leading MICE destination?
Answer: Goa is increasingly emerging as a preferred MICE destination, thanks to its world-class infrastructure, accessibility, and diverse offerings. The state has witnessed significant growth in corporate events, destination weddings, and large-scale conferences. Facilities like the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, the Taj Convention Centre, and luxury five-star hotels, equipped with top-tier facilities, are being leveraged to meet the growing demand for MICE events. Additionally, large open-air venues across Goa are also being utilized to host spectacular events. Goa Tourism continues to participate in MICE-focused trade events to attract global businesses and event planners, ensuring that the state stays top of mind for corporate and group travel. Strategic marketing efforts at domestic and international trade shows (e.g., ATM Dubai, WTM London, ITB Berlin, SATTE Delhi) effectively highlight Goa’s offerings across leisure, group, spiritual, wellness, and MICE segments.
Q.9: There have been concerns about Goa being an expensive destination. What measures are being taken to address pricing and offer value to tourists?
Answer: We acknowledge the concerns regarding affordability and are actively working to ensure that Goa remains a value-driven and accessible destination for all. Through policy interventions, the Department of Tourism is focused on standardizing pricing, enhancing service quality, and offering clear options across budget, mid-range, and premium segments. Promotional efforts are also being directed towards monsoon tourism and mid-week travel, which help distribute tourist footfall more evenly and improve overall affordability.
Affordable and transparent transportation options such as Goa Taxi App, Goa Miles and other app-based taxi services are being promoted to enhance travel convenience without burdening tourists. Additionally, tools like the 1364 Tourist Helpline and the Beach Vigil App empower visitors to report grievances or concerns, reinforcing Goa’s commitment to safety and accountability. While challenges do exist, it is important to view tourism as a dynamic, multi-layered ecosystem. We continue to receive a high influx of tourists, including charter and scheduled flights arriving at both Dabolim and Manohar International Airports, and more travellers are discovering the charm of Goa’s lesser-explored hinterlands.
The Department remains committed to encouraging responsible and inclusive tourism that benefits both visitors and local communities. By promoting higher-value experiences while ensuring that accommodation, dining, and retail remain accessible, Goa aims to strike the right balance—delivering memorable, safe, and enriching travel experiences for every type of traveller.
Q.10: In light of recent criticisms from social media influencers, how is the Tourism Department managing Goa’s digital image and ensuring accurate representations of the state’s offerings?
Answer: We are actively strengthening Goa’s digital image through authentic storytelling, strategic influencer collaborations, and real-time monitoring of online content. We take constructive feedback seriously, using it as a valuable input to enhance visitor experiences and address genuine concerns. At the same time, efforts are being made to amplify narratives that highlight Goa’s cultural richness, sustainability initiatives, and active community participation—elements that truly define the state’s tourism identity.
As part of this strategy, we recently hosted a trip for influencers and journalists from Uzbekistan, enabling them to experience Goa’s diverse offerings firsthand. Their content has helped present a fresh and positive perspective of the state to international audiences. Goa continues to perform above the national average in terms of tourist arrivals and engagement. The state has shown strong resilience and adaptability in a highly competitive tourism landscape. With focused attention on promoting off-season travel and positioning Goa as a year-round destination, we remain committed to ensuring that its digital presence reflects the evolving, inclusive, and authentic spirit of the state.
Q.11: With increasing tourist numbers, how is Goa balancing tourism growth with environmental sustainability and infrastructure capacity?
Answer: To balance rising tourist numbers with environmental sustainability and infrastructure capacity, Goa is embracing a regenerative tourism model—one that goes beyond minimizing harm to actively restoring ecosystems, empowering communities, and future-proofing infrastructure. The Department of Tourism is prioritizing low-impact, high-value tourism by integrating eco-sensitive planning, promoting clean mobility solutions, and investing in resilient infrastructure that supports both visitors and local residents.
A key strategy is the decentralization of tourism through the promotion of hinterland circuits, spiritual trails, and nature-based experiences. This not only disperses tourist footfall but also uplifts lesser-known regions, preserving their ecological and cultural integrity. By incentivizing off-season travel and community-run tourism initiatives, the state is ensuring that the benefits of tourism are equitably shared while reducing the load on popular hotspots. Regenerative tourism is not just a policy—it is Goa’s pathway to long-term harmony between growth, environment, and local livelihoods.
At the same time, we acknowledge the ongoing challenges, particularly in heavily visited areas like Baga and Calangute, which have faced issues such as overcrowding, strain on waste management systems, and occasional conflicts between tourists and locals. The growing impact of budget tourism also highlights the need for improved regulation and infrastructure support. Addressing these concerns requires a proactive and focused approach, and the Department remains committed to safeguarding Goa’s reputation while ensuring that tourism benefits are inclusive, well-managed, and environmentally responsible.
Looking ahead, what are the primary goals and projects the Tourism Department aims to achieve by 2030 to further enhance Goa’s global tourism standing?
By 2030, Goa envisions transforming into a world-class destination that blends global appeal with local soul. As per the Goa Tourism Policy 2020 and Masterplan, the roadmap focuses on sustainable tourism, reimagining the hinterlands, upgrading infrastructure, and training local talent. Signature initiatives like regenerative tourism, Homestay and B&B promotion schemes and more aim to create a resilient and inclusive tourism ecosystem. Moving beyond beaches, Goa is set to offer diverse experiences rooted in culture, nature, and community — positioning itself as a model for thoughtful, future-ready tourism.
