PANJIM: Goa, often referred as tourism paradise, did not seem to be a preferred destination for international tourists, at the end of the pandemic tsunami. Arrivals in FY 2020-21 shrank by 92 per cent.
Though, the Covid-19 pandemic and its related lockdown affected the industry gravely, Goa, which is looking for resurgence, will have tough time as States like Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and 16 others are emerging destinations attracting foreign tourists.
As per India Tourism Statistics 2022, released last week, Goa received only 2.10 per cent of the total foreign tourists that visited the country in 2021.
As per the figures, 22,128 foreign tourists arrived in 2021 as against the 3,02,751 tourists it got in 2020, while in 2019, the coastal State had 9,37,113 international visitors.
The coastal State stood at 12th position in the number of tourists arrival last year. In 2020, it ranked 10th.
India, however, recorded around an 85 percent drop in overall foreign tourist arrival for the season 2021.
“This is all because of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. We were hopeful of a revival of the industry but the third wave of the pandemic was hit followed by Russia and Ukraine war. No charters arrived last season as required. Despite that, we managed to get some foreign tourists,” Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Nilesh Shah told Herald.
Shah said that whatever foreign tourists came were through the bubble facility allowed by the Central government.
“We are hopeful to have a good season this year as quite a good number of charters have booked their slot so far,” Shah said adding that the first charter is expected to land in November.
On the other hand, domestic tourist visits grew by 1.52 percent compared to 2020. The state saw 33,08,089 domestic tourists last year as against 32,58,715 in 2020.
India recorded more than 11 percent growth in domestic tourism within the country. Of the total 677.63 million in 2021, Goa received 0.49 percent of tourists.
Despite recording growth, the State rank dropped to 20 from 17 in 2020.