Although Goa has been abuzz with tourists this season (October to December period), the state’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has acknowledged a decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the year gone by. Speaking on the sides of a recent press conference on Diwar Island in Goa, he blamed the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and Palestine for the decline in foreigners travelling to Goa.
However, he has laid out a detailed plan to boost tourist arrivals, which includes various projects like the state’s homestay policy, first-of-its-kind regenerative tourism model and commencing caravan tourism to, which would benefit those living in the hinterland.
“Russia, Ukraine and Israel make up a sizeable number of foreign tourists arriving in Goa. However, as all the three countries are embroiled in crisis, regular foreign tourist arrivals have declined,” he said. The minister acknowledged that domestic tourists have been filling that vacuum.
Khaunte told CNBC-TV18, “If you noticed hotel room prices and airfares were skyrocketing ahead of the peak season yet there were no rooms available for tourists, which means tourists are paying a premium to stay in Goa.“
“Absolute tourist numbers show that that more people visited Goa last year, compared to the previous year,” Khaunte said and highlighted that while international tourists stay on average for at least eight to ten nights in Goa, domestic tourists spend four days here.
The promotion of distinctive tourism destinations and initiatives of the Goa government is anticipated to lead to a consistent increase in tourist arrivals. Khaunte said.