A war of words erupted in the Goa Assembly over the state’s tourism performance, with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo alleging a decline in both domestic and international tourist footfalls over the past five years. Lobo also questioned the credibility of official data, particularly for the year 2020, citing pandemic-related travel restrictions.
"The government’s figures on foreign tourist arrivals are misleading, especially for 2020 — the COVID year. Travel was restricted globally, yet the numbers suggest otherwise," Lobo said, accusing the government of painting an inaccurate picture.
In a strong rebuttal, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte denied any decline in tourist arrivals. “Tourism is on the rise in Goa. We have not only bounced back but have recovered better than Kerala,” Khaunte asserted.
He credited various initiatives by the state and central governments for boosting international tourism, including improved connectivity, marketing campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades. “Flights to Goa are running full — that itself is an indicator that tourists are coming,” he said.
The contrasting claims have sparked fresh debate over the actual state of Goa’s tourism sector, which remains a crucial pillar of the state's economy.