Panaji: Goa recorded approximately 28.50 lakh tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, closely matching the first quarter of 2025, when the state welcomed 28.51 lakh tourists, the tourism department said.
In a statement issued, the department said that in January and February, the flow of visitors remained stable, maintaining the high base set last year.
“March saw a marginal decline, primarily influenced by international factors. Foreign arrivals were impacted by global developments including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has led to higher fuel costs and affected aviation economics,” it said.
The tourism department pointed out that charter operations, now consolidated through the airport at Mopa, saw some moderation in line with a broader global shift away from group travel.
“However, core markets including the United Kingdom, Russia and Kazakhstan continued to show steady demand,” it said.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that maintaining the state’s tourism performance at near-record levels in the first quarter of 2026 is a clear indicator of Goa’s strength as a destination.
“What is particularly encouraging is the quality of growth we are seeing. Large scale global events along with the continued rise in destination weddings and a strong domestic travel demand are helping us build a more stable and value-driven tourism ecosystem,” he said.
Khaunte said that the momentum also reflects a larger shift in how Goa is being experienced today, with travellers engaging more deeply with cultural, event-led and experiential offerings beyond the beaches, positioning the state as a year-round destination.
Director of Tourism Kedar Naik said that domestic connectivity played a critical role in driving tourism during the first quarter.
“The expansion of direct flight routes linking Goa with cities across India has made the destination more accessible than ever, resulting in a significant surge in the flow of domestic visitors. This also supports our broader objective of ensuring consistent, year-round tourism growth, with domestic travel continuing to be a key pillar of Goa’s tourism ecosystem,” he said.
The tourism department said that the continuous expansion of Goa’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem was a key driver this quarter.
“India Energy Week 2026 brought more than 75,000 delegates, over 700 exhibitors and participants from 120 plus countries, positioning Goa as a credible global host for large scale business events,” the department said in the statement.
