Goa recorded 54 lakh tourists in the first half of 2025, emerging as one of India’s best-connected destinations. While the tourism growth is fuelled by the state’s tourism department, the surge in flights and international routes has also played a major role in the boost.
Goa continues to scale new heights in air connectivity, emerging as one of India’s most well-linked travel destinations. The 2024–25 period marked significant growth in both domestic and international routes, enabling seamless access for travelers from key source markets across the globe. With enhanced flight frequencies, new charter connections, and improved infrastructure, the state is witnessing a steady influx of visitors round the year reaffirming its appeal beyond the traditional season.
The 2024–25 period saw a robust influx of charter flights and new scheduled routes, with enhanced frequencies from key source markets. Charter flights arrived from Russia, the UK, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Uzbekistan. According to Goa’s department of tourism, international operators praised Goa’s streamlined facilitation processes and its expanding range of experiences.
The state additionally witnessed increased connectivity through scheduled international flights from the Gulf region and Iran. Importantly, Goa continues to attract free independent travellers (FITs) from regions like the Gulf, Portugal, and Spain. On the domestic front, new routes connected Goa to cities such as Solapur, Hyderabad, Jalgaon, Agatti, and Lakshadweep via both Goa International Airport at Dabolim and Manohar International Airport (Mopa).
Rohan A. Khaunte, Goa’s tourism minister, said, “This growth in air access is key to our tourism strategy. Better connectivity brings in wider audiences globally and enables us to promote Goa’s rich offerings beyond the conventional. We are seeing its impact across our local economy and in new tourism circuits being explored.” He added that travel to Goa, both domestic and international, has shown steady growth over the past two years, highlighting the sustained revival of the tourism sector.
Kedar Naik, Goa’s tourism director said, “This past season has demonstrated that connectivity is key to tourism growth. With better air access, we have been able to welcome more visitors across seasons and from a wider range of source markets.”
Ernest Dias, chief operating officer of TCI and SITA, added, “For the upcoming season, we are working towards increasing the number of charter flights from Russia and exploring opportunities to establish direct connectivity with Scandinavian countries as well.”
George Varughese, airport director at Goa International Airport (Dabolim) said that necessary steps are being taken to streamline operations ahead of the upcoming tourist season. Efforts include optimum utilization of terminal space, increasing staffing during peak hours, and improving coordination with all stakeholders to facilitate smoother passenger flow.
