Goa's beaches attracted 2.68 million tourists in the 2011-12 tourist season, which began in October and is on the wane now.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a tourism-related function in Panaji Tuesday, Director of Goa's tourism department Swapnil Naik said this was the highest number of tourists to visit the state.

"We have received 26.8 lakh tourists uptil now. Of this, 4.8 lakh were foreigners," Naik said.

The official said the provisional figures showed that a record, 900 chartered flights landed in Goa carrying more than half the number of foreigners who hit Goa's beaches this year.

Goa's tourist season ranges from October to March and the state's mild winter sun is a big draw for European tourists who visit the state to escape the harsh winter conditions in their countries.

IANS