Goa’s tourism sector is set to receive a significant boost with the resumption of Air India’s direct flight to London’s Gatwick Airport by the end of September. The service was suspended following the tragic June 12 Ahmedabad–London crash. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte confirmed the update during the monsoon session of the state assembly, calling improved connectivity a “game changer” for Goa.
Additionally, Aeroflot Airlines will launch three weekly direct flights from Yekaterinburg, Russia to Goa starting October 5, 2025. Each flight is expected to bring 210 passengers, with the new route projected to attract over 13,000 Russian tourists during the season.
Goa continues to expand its international reach, with recent air corridors established with Poland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Khaunte emphasised that these strategic connections are part of a broader push for long-term, sustainable tourism development.
Tourism numbers reflect this growth: Between January and June 2025, Goa recorded 54.5 lakh tourist arrivals, including 2.7 lakh international visitors, representing an 8.4% increase year on year. In June alone, 8.34 lakh tourists arrived, driven by cultural festivals like Sao Joao, forest retreats, and creek tours. Hotel occupancy between January and June ranged between 70–100%, underscoring strong demand.
Addressing concerns of a slowdown, Khaunte stated that Goa has already surpassed its pre-COVID-19 figures. Tourist numbers rose from 80.6 lakh in 2019 to 1.04 crore in 2024, with a 39.5% rise in domestic and 50% rise in international visitors compared to pre-pandemic levels.
