Goa tourism: At a crossroads of charm and challenges

Since late 2024, social media and mainstream news have been flooded with discussions about the apparent decline of tourism in Goa. Viral posts showing empty beaches, deserted streets and closed shacks have raised concerns about the state’s once-thriving tourist industry.

There are also growing whispers about Indian tourists reconsidering their trips due to reports of exploitation by taxi drivers and rising hotel costs, with cheaper alternatives now available abroad, particularly in Southeast Asian countries.

To most Indians at least - Goa is a right of passage for friendship. Even today, it is one of the biggest ‘to-do’ for most of India’s youth.

Which makes us wonder, how dire is the situation? Has the quintessential holiday destination for couples and best friends alike lost its charm? Is tourism in Goa really in a freefall? This article breaks down the data and separates facts from conjecture.

What does the data say?

The chart below portrays a dichotomy between local and foreign tourists in Goa.

Source: Goa Tourism Department; *Please note that 2024 data is from January to September 2024. The months of January to March 2024 are therefore considered in 2023-24 and 2024 as well. This has been done due to non-availability of recent data availability.

Domestic tourism to Goa has continued to increase. Besides the beach fun (of course!), Goa has diversified its tourism appeal by promoting places like:

• The scenic hinterlands of the Dudhsagar Falls

• Spiritual sites like the Church of St. Francis of Assisi

• Ekadasha Teertha Circuit, which honours Goa’s cultural heritage and promotes eco-tourism

• Finally, Goa is a preferred choice for destination weddings and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events.

All of this has increased Goa’s charm and appeal among local tourists.

On a more disappointing note, the number of foreign tourists has seen a sharp decline in Goa. In fact before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foreign tourists has more than halved compared to 2018-19. While there are some internal challenges, some of this can also be attributed to the rise of other alternative destinations.

Shift to Southeast Asian countries

The number of Indian tourists flocking to Southeast Asia is booming, with Thailand alone seeing 2.0 million visitors from India in 2024. Easier access (direct flights, relaxed visa rules, etc.), budget-friendly options, and vibrant cultures have made these countries some of the top picks for Indian tourists.

Source: Press articles; Indonesia* - Data till July 2024

But is Goa that costly?

Well, we have done some of the work for you. The table below compares the cost of a 4-night (4N) trip to Goa, versus a similar trip to Bali (Indonesia), Da Nang (Vietnam), Krabi (Thailand), and Putrajaya (Malaysia).

Time of the year: January 2025 Hotels selected

• Krabi, Thailand: BlueSotel Krabi AoNang Beach (4-star hotel; 8.1 rating on Booking.com)

• Goa, India: Radisson Goa Candolim (4-star hotel; 7.5 rating on Booking.com)

• Da Nang, Vietnam: Radisson Hotel Da Nang (5-star hotel; 8.6 rating on Booking.com)

• Bali, Indonesia: Novotel Bali Benoa (5-star hotel; 8.0 rating on Booking.com)

• Putrajaya , Malaysia: Park Inn by Radisson Putrajaya (4-star hotel; 8.2 rating on Booking.com)

How much would a 4-night trip cost?

Source: Booking.com, Skyscanner; Flight dates: January 13th & 17th 2025; Hotel dates: January 13-17, 2025

As seen above, flights to these countries may be pricier than Goa, but when hotel costs are considered, these places become a competitive option, when compared to Goa.

Now here is the thing, one can always find cheaper alternatives for stay, for travel, and even for other leisure activities. You can visit these locations during off-peak periods to minimise your cost. But if one were to do this same analysis 10 years back, most of these foreign locations were neither this easily accessible nor were they so competitive on a cost basis.

Expectedly, as Goa’s popularity has soared so have the prices!

Now let's look at certain challenges that tend to hamper the tourist’s experience in Goa.

Taxi issues

Tourists have reported incidents of being overcharged or mistreated by taxi drivers. In response, the Goa government introduced a ride-hailing app, GoaMiles, in 2018. The app was created to offer a safer, more affordable, and reliable transportation option to enhance the tourist experience.

However, after almost 5 years, the success of this app has been very limited. Even as of 2025, ride-hailing apps like Uber and Ola, which are very popular in the rest of India, have yet to gain any meaningful footing in Goa.

Others

Besides this, common issues that most tourists complain about relate to overall cleanliness and infrastructure challenges. Compared to other tourist destinations, Goa’s overall cleanliness has raised some concerns among tourists. Besides that, infrastructure growth has not been able to keep pace with the faster than expected rise of Goa as a tourist destination

So, what is the verdict?

Well, one swallow doesn't make a summer. Similarly, the recent drop in foreign tourists does not make it an ongoing trend, and claims that foreigners have completely abandoned Goa might be a bit exaggerated.

Is Goa currently facing some challenges? Sure.

But to say that tourism is in freefall seems unwarranted.

The rise of alternative locations, while a short-term challenge, can be taken in the stride. The Goan tourism department can take steps to leverage its unique heritage, work on further enhancing tourist experiences, and learn from other travel destinations. This can help Goa restore its world-class destination status.