Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India Hit Nearly 4.78 Million in First Half of 2024

Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India for the first half of 2024 reached approximately 4.78 million, with Bangladesh and the United States leading as the primary source countries. This data, released by the Tourism Ministry, highlights that inbound tourism is yet to reach pre-pandemic levels. The figures were shared on World Tourism Day, emphasising a gradual recovery in the tourism sector.

In June 2024, FTAs were recorded at 706,045, showing a 9% increase from June 2023's 648,008 but a 2.8% decrease compared to June 2019's 726,446. For the January-June period of 2024, FTAs stood at 4,778,374, marking a 9.1% rise from the same period in 2023 but a 9.8% decline compared to 2019. The top five source countries for this period were Bangladesh (21.55%), the US (17.56%), the UK (9.82%), Canada (4.5%), and Australia (4.32%).

Tourism Trends and Economic Impact

In June 2024, Bangladesh accounted for 28.49% of FTAs, followed by the US at 22.59%, the UK at 6.10%, Australia at 3.74%, and Canada at 3.01%. Leisure and recreation remained the primary reasons for travel among foreign tourists visiting India during this time.

The Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics report noted that India's inbound tourism recovery is slower than global trends post-pandemic. While global FTAs reached 96% of pre-Covid levels by July 2024, India's figures lagged behind. In contrast, foreign exchange earnings (FEE) showed growth, indicating higher spending per visitor.

Outbound Tourism and Economic Recovery

The FEE for January-June 2024 was USD 15.339 billion, up from USD 13.041 billion in the same period of 2023 and USD 14.534 billion in 2019, reflecting growth rates of 17.62% and 5.54%, respectively. Indian National Departures (INDs) also increased to over 15 million during this period.

Indian tourists are becoming significant contributors to global tourism growth, making up about 2.4% of the global outbound market as of 2019. Economic recovery is boosting tourism with more Indians travelling abroad due to rising disposable incomes and better airline connectivity.

Tourism Initiatives and Recognition

The Ministry of Tourism announced winners in the Best Tourism Villages Competition for 2024, recognising villages across various categories such as adventure tourism and responsible tourism. This initiative aims to promote rural tourism development.

To further enhance tourism experiences, feedback mechanisms are being introduced at airports and railway stations across India. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to engage citizens in tourism development and improve visitor experiences at tourist attractions nationwide.

Despite challenges like geopolitical tensions affecting international travel recovery rates, experts remain optimistic about returning to pre-pandemic levels by late 2024. Former Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh expressed confidence in this recovery trend while acknowledging potential obstacles.

The Asia Pacific region remains crucial for India's inbound tourism market, with countries like Australia and Japan among the top sources of tourists visiting India in recent years. Approximately 1.22 million tourists from six Asia Pacific countries visited India out of a total of over nine million foreign tourists in recent years.

The Ministry's data underscores that while inbound tourism is recovering slowly compared to global trends, there is optimism for future growth as international travel normalises further into late-2024 despite existing challenges impacting faster recovery rates globally and domestically within India’s tourism sector landscape today.