Goa Records 10.5 per cent Tourism Growth in Q1 2025

In a bid to strengthen Goa’s position as a leading travel destination, the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa held a stakeholder meeting at Paryatan Bhavan, Panjim, led by Tourism Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte. The meeting brought together top tourism officials and industry representatives to review the season’s performance and discuss future strategies.

In his opening remarks, Hon’ble Minister Rohan A. Khaunte emphasized the importance of timely and structured stakeholder engagements, particularly in light of national and regional developments. Referring to the recent Pahalgam incident in Kashmir, he noted, “As the Hon’ble Prime Minister ensured a swift and resolute response through Operation Sindoor, it was equally important for us, as a tourism-driven state, to evaluate the ripple effects on travel sentiment. Today’s meeting was not only about addressing current concerns, but also about building long-term resilience. We are moving from mere policy reviews to dynamic recalibrations that are responsive to ground realities. Goa’s strength lies in its people—every Goan is a stakeholder, an influencer, and a tourism ambassador.” 

The department shared promising data showing a 10.5 per cent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025. Visitor numbers rose from 25,80,155 in Q1 2024 to 28,51,554 in Q1 2025. While the month of April showed a slight dip, the overall outlook remains positive.

Attendees included Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism; Kuldeep Arolkar, MD of GTDC; Shawn Mendes, OSD to the Tourism Minister; and members of the Goa Tourism Board and private sector.

The full-day sessions focussed on reviewing the past season and preparing for emerging global challenges — including geopolitical and economic shifts through joint planning and governance.

Director of Tourism, Kedar Naik, underlined the Department’s commitment to listening, learning, and enabling. “We are here to ensure that the voice of every stakeholder is heard. From formal hotels to homestays, from digital platforms to community operators—Goa Tourism belongs to all of them. The goal is to ensure that our policies remain inclusive, adaptive, and implementation-ready.” 

Concerns raised during the discussion, as well as from earlier consultations, will be addressed in an upcoming interdepartmental meeting chaired by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, ensuring a more coordinated and resilient tourism strategy for the state.