MUMBAI: Tourist arrivals in Goa, famous for its excellent beaches, churches and temples, shot up by a healthy 30 per cent to 40,58,226 in 2014 as compared to 2013.
The tiny state hosted 31,21,473 tourists – both domestic as well as foreign – in 2013, according to data from Tourism Department of Goa.
“The statistical graph showing a 30 per cent increase in tourist arrivals for the year 2014 reinforces our stand that Goa is a preferred holiday destination in the world and will continue to be one every passing year,” Director of Tourism Ameya Abhyankar said in a release here.
A total of 19,70,792 domestic tourists visited Goa between October-December 2014, considered a busy season, a sharp rise from 12,19,872 in the same period in 2013.
As many as 2,30,811 foreign holiday-makers arrived in Goa between October-December in 2014 as against 2,32,874 in 2013.
Tourist arrival figures for the last quarter of 2014 (October-December) showed an increase (62%) on domestic front, while the drop in case of foreigners in the same period was very meager, Abhyankar added.
In 2014, 35,44,634 Indian tourists visited the coastal state, while those from abroad stood at 5,13,592. The figures for Indian and foreign travelers for 2013 were 26,29,151 and 4,92,322 respectively.
“The data is very encouraging. In case of foreign tourist arrivals, there has been a drop in charter arrivals but this is a temporary phase arising from the prevailing geopolitical scenario in Europe.
“We are focusing on newer markets across the globe and will see rise in footfalls in the months to come,” Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said in the release. -PTI
