India welcomed 99.52 lakh Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2024, according to data released by the Government of India.
Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presented the figures in a written reply to questions raised in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Shekhawat was asked to provide year-wise details of FTAs for the last five years and to clarify whether India’s tourism sector has seen a full rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He confirmed that although FTAs have risen sharply in recent years, international arrivals have not yet surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
The minister also cited the UN World Tourism Organisation, which categorises International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) into two types — Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Arrivals of Non-Resident Nationals (NRIs).
Top Source Nations for Foreign Tourist Arrivals
As per the government’s official data, the US, Bangladesh, the UK, Australia, and Canada ranked as the top five source nations for FTAs in India during 2024.
The broader list of top 10 markets over the last five years includes Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, and Singapore.
Bangladesh emerged as the top source market for FTAs in 2020 and 2023, while the US led the list in 2021, 2022, and 2024. The UK, Australia, and Canada consistently featured in the top five source countries.
Year-Wise Growth in Tourist Arrivals
The year-wise figures for Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) are as follows:
- 2020 – 27.45 lakh
- 2021 – 15.27 lakh
- 2022 – 64.37 lakh
- 2023 – 95.21 lakh
- 2024 – 99.52 lakh
The International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) data showed stronger growth:
- 2020 – 63.37 lakh
- 2021 – 70.10 lakh
- 2022 – 143.30 lakh
- 2023 – 188.99 lakh
- 2024 – 205.69 lakh
Officials noted that the steady increase in both FTAs and ITAs reflects a strong rebound in India’s tourism industry, supported by improved air connectivity, cultural promotions, and global interest in India as a travel destination.
However, Shekhawat emphasised that India has not yet reached pre-COVID FTA levels, signalling room for further growth.
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