India witnessed a strong influx of international visitors in 2024, with 99,51,722 foreign tourists arriving in the country, according to Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
The figures, provided in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, mark a notable rise from 95,20,928 arrivals in 2023 and 64,37,467 in 2022.
The highest number of foreign tourists came from the United States (18,04,586), followed by Bangladesh (17,50,165) and the United Kingdom (10,22,587).
The data also revealed a surge in outbound travel by Indian nationals. More than 3 crore Indians travelled abroad in 2024, with the United Arab Emirates being the top destination, attracting over 77 lakh visitors from India.
Saudi Arabia (34,23,711) and the United States (21,43,909) were the next most popular destinations.
The Ministry attributed this data to the Bureau of Immigration, which compiles figures on both inbound and outbound travel.
Government’s Tourism Promotion Efforts
Earlier, on July 25, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh addressed the Lok Sabha on India’s strategy to strengthen its international tourism profile.
He emphasised that the government views global tourism as a key driver for economic growth, job creation, and enhancing India’s global standing.
To attract more foreign visitors, the government has been actively promoting India in major overseas tourism trade fairs and exhibitions. Initiatives include:
- Organising Tourism Roadshows in key markets,
- Facilitating business-to-business (B2B) meetings and familiarisation (FAM) trips,
- Partnering with state tourism boards and private stakeholders, and
- Running targeted India tourism publicity campaigns, including social media outreach
Improved international air connectivity has also played a pivotal role in increasing foreign arrivals.
The government has pursued bilateral agreements to expand direct flight options, making travel to India more convenient for tourists from various regions.
With consistent growth in tourist arrivals and outbound travel, India’s tourism sector is on a steady upward trajectory.
The government’s multi-pronged approach, combining infrastructure development, marketing, and international partnerships, aims to further strengthen India’s position as a global travel destination in the years ahead.
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