- India's foreign tourist arrivals fell 8.1% to 9.15 million in the latest data
- Arrivals remain 16% below the pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million in 2019
- Actual foreign tourists estimated at 2-3 million after excluding medical visits
India's tourism numbers registered a decline with arrivals decling 8.1% from a year prior, with 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivas as per data from the Ministry of Tourism. This was 16% off the pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million in 2019.
Up to half of them arrived in India from North America and Europe. As per a Bloomberg report, tour operators reported figures that were notably lower after excluding reasons such as a medical tourism and family visits. The actual amount of visitors from foreign nations is estimated to be 2-3 million, as per Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
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This figure is lower compared to the tourists that visit Albania, a country with a population below 3 million people compared to India's 1.4 billion. Albania saw 12.47 million tourists in 2025, as per data from the Albanian Institute of Statistics.
A June report by NITI Aayog stated that India's $35 billion in foreign tourism receipts remained below those of smaller destinations such as Turkey, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, despite the country's variety of cultural, natural and experiential attractions.
Industry executives and foreign tourists cited several factors behind India's struggle to attract international visitors, including scams, safety concerns, transportation difficulties and visa-related hurdles. The US Department of State and other foreign governments have also issued travel advisories highlighting safety concerns, particularly for women and solo travellers.
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The rapid growth in domestic tourism has added to the challenge. Domestic travel rose 46% in the previous year to 4.29 billion trips, almost double the pre-pandemic peak, on the back of rising incomes, infrastructure development and growing demand for religious tourism.
As the domestic market has expanded, India's tourism industry has increasingly focused on local travellers. Strong domestic demand has also increased competition for hotel rooms and domestic flights, pushing up prices for international visitors.
(With Bloomberg Inputs)
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