Goa, once a top beach destination in India, is experiencing a significant decline in foreign tourism, with industry insiders attributing this to rising competition from more affordable and better-developed destinations in Southeast Asia. The sharp fall in foreign visitors has raised concerns about the state losing its appeal, particularly among traditional tourist groups such as Russians and Brits, who have increasingly opted for alternatives like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
According to entrepreneur Ramanuj Mukherjee, foreign tourism to Goa has plummeted from 8.5 million in 2019 to just 1.5 million in 2023, a dramatic decrease compared to the steady 8 million domestic tourists. He highlighted that while domestic tourism…
