Panaji, Aug 29 (PTI) Goa welcomed 61.38 lakh visitors in the last seven months, registering steady overall growth and pointing to a strong winter prospect driven by a rise in international charter bookings, the state Tourism Department said on Saturday.
The department has stated that the strong momentum — even during the traditional monsoon off-season — demonstrates changing travel preferences, as visitors seek culture, wellness, and culinary experiences beyond conventional beach tourism.
According to a statement from the Tourism Department, Goa has recorded an overall growth in tourist arrivals, welcoming 61.38 lakh visitors between January and July 2026.
The figures reaffirm the coastal state’s continued appeal as a leading leisure and experiential tourism destination despite challenging global travel and economic conditions, the department said.
State Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said, “The overall growth in arrivals during the first seven months shows that the demand for Goa continues even amid uncertainty in global travel markets.” Travellers have started looking beyond the conventional beach holiday and seeking experiences rooted in Goa’s culture, cuisine, heritage, wellness, nature and communities, he said.
“We are working to expand our presence across established and emerging markets, while building products that can give travellers more reasons to visit Goa across the year. The resilience reflected in the latest numbers gives us confidence that Goa remains firmly on the global tourism map,” Khaunte said.
The tourism department has said that the positive outlook from international markets is further reflected in forward bookings and plans announced by TUI for the upcoming winter season.
Nahush Bargi, Assistant Vice President of Le Passage to India (TUI Group), said, “Our TUI charter arrivals will commence in November, with four flights per week from the UK, two from Manchester and two from Gatwick.” “The response has been very encouraging, with bookings currently standing at 15,300 passengers, which is 7 per cent higher than at the same time last year,” he said.
This will be the first time we welcome an incentive group of this nature from Germany to Goa, he added.
Bargi said they also intend to promote local sightseeing tours and curated experiences tailored to the interests of these guests, allowing them to explore and experience the destination beyond their stay.
The international market outlook is also strengthening across Russia and Central Asia. Concord Exotic Voyages expects to bring more than 45,000 international tourists to Goa during the 2026-27 season, with charter operations planned from several established and emerging source markets.
Sheikh Ismail, senior vice president of Concord Exotic Voyages, said they have noticed an increase in bookings from Russia and Kazakhstan for this winter compared to the previous year.
“We are also seeing emerging markets gaining momentum, particularly Belarus, Armenia, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan,” he added.
He further said that there is scope for additional charter flights during the season if demand continues to grow. Longer stays of around 10 to 15 nights also mean a greater economic contribution from each international visitor.
Ranjit Phillipose, Senior Vice President – Operations, Goa, The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), said, “The first quarter has been really good for our hotels in Goa.” “We saw occupancy levels of around 80 per cent, with year-on-year growth of about 18 per cent during this period. These numbers reflect the continued strength of demand for Goa and the changing perception of the destination as a year-round market,” he added. PTI RPS ARU
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