Panaji: The ongoing conflict in West Asia has posed significant challenges for Goa’s tourism sector, resulting in a decrease in international arrivals and the cancellation of flights routed through the Middle East.
However, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte highlighted a resilient silver lining following an industry stakeholder meeting on Thursday. He said that domestic flights to the state continue to operate at full capacity despite the rising airfares.
While the international outlook remains unclear, Goa continues to be a preferred holiday destination for Indian travellers, whom the minister characterised as strong spenders. This domestic surge, driven by weddings, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and large events like India Energy Week 2026 helped the state maintain a steady tempo of approximately 28.5 lakh visitors in the first quarter of the year.
With domestic flights going full, hotels are maintaining high occupancy levels, offsetting the decline in foreign footfall. Khaunte noted that while the state must tap into new international markets to address the fallout of the war, the domestic segment remains the mainstay of the industry.
The meeting, which included representatives from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), airlines and online travel agency (OTA) platforms, also shifted focus toward the upcoming monsoon season.
Building on the success of 2025, stakeholders are collaborating on attractive packages starting in June to maintain the “happiness quotient” for tourists. To further mitigate the impact of regional instability on airlines and connecting flights, the tourism department has scheduled a follow-up meeting for May 20 to finalise a strategic game plan for the industry.
