New Delhi: International Tourist Arrivals in India rose to 20.57 million in 2024, registering an 8.9% increase over 2023 and crossing pre-Covid levels, the Union government said.
Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the data in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. He said inbound tourism recorded steady growth over the past five years. He added that arrivals depended on visas, health standards, infrastructure quality and connectivity.
Data from the Bureau of Immigration showed that India received 17.91 million foreign tourists in 2019. The pandemic caused arrivals to drop to 6.33 million in 2020. Numbers stood at 7 million in 2021. However, tourism recovered to 14.33 million in 2022 and rose to 18.89 million in 2023.
The minister said the government maintained a positive tourism image abroad. He said safety measures, better infrastructure and focused promotion strengthened confidence among foreign travellers.
International Tourist Arrivals supported by visas, promotion and safety
Shekhawat said the e-visa programme gained wide acceptance among foreign nationals. India now offers 14 e-visa categories to citizens of 175 countries. Tourists can enter through 38 airports, 16 seaports and two land ports.
He said the Ministry integrated tourism registrations with the National Single Window System. The National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry now connects accommodation units, tour operators and service providers through a single platform.
The minister said the Incredible India campaign promoted destinations through digital platforms and global tourism fairs. These efforts increased visibility and strengthened India’s brand overseas.
He added that the Ministry of Tourism worked closely with the Civil Aviation Ministry to improve air connectivity. The focus included major destinations and emerging locations. On safety, he said states were encouraged to deploy tourism police units.
Shekhawat said the Ministry operated a 24×7 multilingual tourist helpline in 12 languages. The service assists domestic and foreign tourists and provides support during emergencies.
