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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.139
ANSWERED ON 29.01.2026
FALL IN INTERNATIONAL TOURIST ARRIVALS
139 DR. KANIMOZHI NVN SOMU:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has observed a recent fall in international tourist arrivals in India
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any assessments, surveys, or studies have been conducted to identify the key
factors behind this decline;
(c) whether Government has examined the reasons for international travellers increasingly
preferring other Southeast Asian countries despite India offering diverse landscapes,
heritage and tourism experiences; and
(d) if so, the corrective steps proposed to enhance India’s competitiveness as a global
tourism destination and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a) and (b): In terms of international tourist arrivals, the latest data indicates a significant
upward trend, as reflected in the table below:
International Tourist Arrivals in India
Year ITA (in million)
2019 17.91
2020 6.33
2021 7
2022 14.33
2023 18.89
2024 (Provisional) 20.57
Source: Bureau of Immigration
(c): No specific study on the subject has been undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism.
However, according to the latest UN Tourism Barometer, international tourist arrivals in India
surpassed the 2019 pre-pandemic benchmark in 2023, whereas Southeast Asia as a region has
not yet exceeded its 2019 levels even in 2024. Within the region, Malaysia is the only country
that has recorded a higher growth rate than India.
(d): The Ministry of Tourism undertakes various promotional activities in important and
potential tourist generating markets with the objective to promote tourism to the country, inassociation with the Indian Missions located in the respective countries, State Governments/
Union Territories Administrations and travel trade sector. These promotional activities
undertaken during the last five years include participation in various international travel trade
exhibitions, fairs and events; organization of familiarization (FAM) tours for foreign tour
operators, media and influencers; organisation of Tourism Roadshows, India food festivals;
engagement with local tour operators and other industry stakeholders; publicity through social
media handles.
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