Foreign tourist arrivals in India are yet to recover to pre- pandemic level with the country receiving 11.6 per cent fewer overseas visitors in 2024
Between January – December 2024, India received 9.65 million foreign tourists, data compiled by tourism ministry shows. Overall tourist footfalls grew by mere 1.4 per cent on a year on year basis. In 2019 the country had received 10.9 million foreign tourists.
“ We could sense a decline. Only thing now there is an official stamp to it,” said Rajiv Mehra, president of Indian Association of Tour Operators.
A fall in traffic from Bangladesh following political tensions in the country is said to be main reason for delayed recovery. High tour costs and less visibility of India in key source markets in Europe or the US are other factors.
US overtook Bangladesh as the largest source market and accounted for 18.14 per cent of all arrivals in 2024. Bangladesh remained on second spot but it’s share dropped from 22.27 per cent in 2023 to 17.57 per cent in 2024.
On the positive side foreign exchange earning from tourism rose 19.8 per cent year on year to Rs 2.77 lakh crore due to higher tour costs and rupee depreciation.
The tourism ministry didn’t respond to a query sent on Friday.
At an industry event last month, tourism minister Gajendra Shekhawat said foreign tourist arrivals in India are close to pre-Covid figure. “If we exclude small countries and compare ourselves with established destinations in the Asia Pacific region, I will say our recovery is one of the fastest and the best,” he had said.
Intensified campaigns
Tourism sector executives say there is need to do more and call for intensified campaigns.
“India has not been able to capitalise on decline in tourist flows to China post pandemic. Thailand and Vietnam have captured a large share of that tourist flow,” said Dipak Deva, MD of Travel Corporation of India, Thomas Cook India’s inbound travel division
“Free visas need to be explored as a strategy to boost foreign tourists sentiment. This needs to be backed by aggressive international brand marketing of Indian tourism and presence of tourism officials in key source markets,” said Aashish Gupta, CEO of Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality.
Last year government rolled out a scheme to offer one lakh free visas to persons recommended by members of Indian diaspora under the Chalo India scheme.
In the union budget last month government announced steps to boost foreign tourist arrivals and spur employment. Measures include Mudra loans for homestays, PLI incentives for States for effective destination management and visa fee waivers for certain categories of tourists.
