Panaji: Goa’s tourism sector has registered a 6.23% increase in tourist arrivals between January and September 2025 compared to the same period last year, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said on Friday.

The state, which had faced a significant downturn during the pandemic as foreign arrivals declined sharply, also witnessed growth in international visitors. Goa received 3.36 lakh foreign tourists between January and September this year, up from 2.59 lakh during the corresponding period in 2024.

Addressing the press, Khaunte criticized social media influencers for allegedly “targeting Goa during the last quarter of every year, when the tourism season begins, to dissuade tourists from visiting.” He highlighted that this year, Goa welcomed visitors from Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in Russia — cities that previously did not have direct flights to the state — while continuing to maintain regular flights from Moscow, Almaty in Kazakhstan, and other destinations.

“For us, numbers have never been an issue. We have received 34 flights from Russia and Central Asia while also maintaining our markets in the UK, for which TUI Airways has commenced services from Manchester and Gatwick this week,” the minister said. He added that efforts are underway to regain lost markets in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

Goa’s tourism season, which runs from October to May during the non-monsoon months, typically attracts around 10 million tourists annually, of whom approximately 0.9 million are international visitors. While domestic arrivals have largely recovered post-pandemic, the number of foreign tourists has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, a concern for stakeholders in the state’s tourism industry.

The state has also seen a sharp rise in registered hotels, with the number increasing from 3,647 in 2022 to 9,166 as of September 2025, according to government data.

In 2024, Goa recorded 9.9 million tourists over the full calendar year, including 0.4 million foreigners. Between January and September this year, the state welcomed 7.2 million tourists, including 0.3 million international visitors.

“Overall, we have witnessed a growth of 6.23% compared to the same period last year. We are optimistic that the current season will be positive for the industry, which contributes 16% to the state GDP and provides 40% of jobs,” Khaunte said, expressing confidence in a robust tourism season ahead.