Over 60% drop in foreign tourists in Goa, a worrying struggle post-pandemic

Goa, a global tourist hotspot, is grappling with a significant drop in foreign tourist arrivals following the pandemic. While the state has seen a recovery in domestic tourism since, arrivals of foreigners have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The decline has left the tourism sector – the mainstay of the state’s economy and heavily reliant on international visitors – with serious challenges. Several factors ranging from transport, security, cost of services and infrastructure issues to geopolitical tensions are contributing to this shift, impacting businesses that depend on foreign spending.
The numbers have plummeted further since the pandemic. In 2019, Goa welcomed nearly 9.4 lakh foreign tourists, but by 2023, this figure had dropped to just 4.03 lakh by November, as per OHeraldo.
This represents a nearly 60% decrease in foreign tourist numbers over a span of just a few years. In particular, the year 2022 saw an 82% decline in foreign tourist arrivals compared to 2018, a worrying trend for the state’s tourism-dependent economy.

While domestic tourism has seen an uptick, foreign arrivals have declined after the pandemic. (Photo: X)

Goa’s tourism sector has been being hindered by the dominance of ‘taxi mafias’. These powerful groups control the majority of taxi services across the state and have earned notoriety for exploiting both tourists and local residents.
Taxi operators in Goa are notorious for their inflated fare rates, lack of metered services, and refusal to follow government regulations. For tourists, especially foreigners, this often leads to unpleasant experiences, with many feeling overcharged and exploited.
Some tourists have even reported incidents of intimidation when trying to negotiate fares or when taxi drivers refuse service altogether unless they agree to exorbitant prices.
In a recent post, an X user shared an alarming experience: “Once in Goa, we gave a lift to a foreigner tourist in our car. Some taxi guy stopped us and asked us to get him down, or they would break the car. Goa tourism is ruined majorly by how the taxi mafia behaves. Interesting case study. This never happened in Pushkar or Udaipur.”

People blame taxi mafias for the lack of tourism in Goa. (Photo: X)

The lack of online taxi services like Ola and Uber, which are common in other major tourist destinations across India, exacerbates the situation. Without app-based ride-hailing options, tourists are left to rely on local taxis, where fare transparency is often a significant issue.
Unlike in cities where services like Ola and Uber operate with set fares and tracking, tourists in Goa often have no choice but to accept the inflated prices set by taxi drivers, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction.
The taxi mafia’s control has had a direct impact on the overall tourist experience in Goa. Visitors are often forced to rely on these operators for transportation, as public transport options are limited, and rental cars are frequently overpriced or unavailable. The absence of reliable, affordable, and transparent transportation alternatives makes it difficult for tourists to get around without feeling taken advantage of.
The inflated costs and occasional hostile behaviour of taxi drivers have led to negative reviews, which spread rapidly online and damaged Goa’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination. In another post one of the ‘X’ user shared that Goa’s taxi mafia is responsible for it 100%.

Taxi mafias in Goa even stop people from picking up their foreigner friends. (Photo: X)

Many tourists who have encountered these issues often express frustration on social media and travel forums, deterring potential visitors from coming to Goa. Some even choose alternative destinations where transportation is more affordable, regulated, and accessible through digital platforms.
Local tourism stakeholders argue that addressing the issue of taxi mafias and introducing app-based taxi services is crucial for Goa’s recovery.
Without a more transparent and efficient transportation system, it will be difficult to restore the confidence of foreign tourists who have many options for international travel.
The introduction of services like Ola and Uber could help regulate fares, reduce the power of the mafia, and improve the overall visitor experience, making Goa a more attractive destination for global travellers.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with the unrest in Gaza, has significantly impacted the flow of tourists from these regions. For example, before the pandemic, Goa saw five charter flights per day from Russia. That frequency has reduced drastically, with only a handful of flights landing each week, reported The Goan Everyday.
Similarly, Goa once attracted numerous Israeli tourists, but due to the unstable political climate in the Middle East, charter flights from Israel have also been shelved.
These geopolitical issues have made travellers from affected countries hesitant to visit, further compounded by India’s e-visa delays for UK nationals, which has disrupted the steady stream of European tourists.
Despite these hurdles, Goa remains hopeful that it can attract tourists from other emerging markets, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which have started contributing modestly to tourist numbers.
The silver lining for Goa has been the surge in domestic tourism, which has helped offset some of the losses from international visitors. In 2019, Goa hosted around 80.6 million domestic tourists, a number that was sharply reduced in 2020 due to the pandemic but rebounded to 76.1 million by 2023.
The increase in domestic tourism has been particularly significant as Indians, with higher disposable incomes, are now more willing to travel and spend on leisure activities, such as destination weddings and family vacations.
However, despite the influx of domestic tourists, local operators argue that the longer stays and higher spending of foreign tourists are crucial to maintaining the financial health of Goa’s tourism sector.
Foreign tourists tend to stay for extended periods, frequent more premium accommodations, and contribute to a greater share of the revenue compared to domestic visitors.
With the loss of foreign tourists, local businesses are calling for urgent government intervention to address the ongoing challenges. Industry leaders are advocating for measures such as reducing visa fees and landing charges at airports and simplifying the visa-on-arrival process.
These steps, they argue, would make Goa more competitive with other destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which offer lower costs and better infrastructure.
There is also a push for infrastructure improvements, including better public transport, beach amenities, and overall tourist experience, to ensure that Goa remains a top choice for international visitors once geopolitical tensions ease.
While the outlook for Goa’s tourism industry remains uncertain, stakeholders are hopeful that the coming months will bring a turnaround. The tourism peak season, which runs from November through March, will be crucial in determining how well Goa can bounce back.
If the political situation improves and targeted measures are implemented, the state could regain its position as one of Asia’s premier tourist destinations.
While domestic tourism has provided a much-needed boost, the decline in foreign tourist numbers post-pandemic continues to be a significant hurdle for Goa’s tourism sector.
Addressing the challenges posed by geopolitical instability, outdated visa policies, and infrastructure gaps will be key to the state’s recovery. As the tourism industry looks ahead, it must adapt to both the changing dynamics of international travel and the evolving demands of global tourists.