Lok Sabha Question No. 156 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-03
Subject: Decline in Foreign Tourists
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Smt. Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.156 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025

## DECLINE IN FOREIGN TOURISTS

## 156. SMT. SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)    the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country during each of the last two years, country-wise;
- (b) the  major  reasons  for  the  dip  in  foreign  tourist  numbers  to different destinations in the country; and
- (c)      the  special  efforts  made  or  proposed  to  address  the  decline  in foreign tourists and attract more tourists to visit the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM     (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) to (c): As per data from the Bureau of Immigration, India recorded 9.52 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2023, reflecting a 47.9% increase compared to 2022. The details FTAs in India during 2022 and 2023 from major countries are given in Annexure.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  taken  several  steps  to  attract  more  foreign tourists in the country as under:

- The Ministry of Tourism under the schemes  of 'Swadesh Darshan',  'National  Mission  on  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)' and 'Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development' provides financial assistance to State Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations/Central  Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various tourism destinations in the country.
- Ministry  of  Tourism  through  its  various  campaigns  and  events promotes various tourism destinations and products of India in domestic and international markets. Some of the initiatives are Dekho Apna Desh campaign, Chalo India campaign, International Tourism Mart, Bharat Parv.
- The  Incredible  India  Content  Hub  was  launched  which  is  a comprehensive  digital  repository,  featuring  a  rich  collection  of high-quality images, films, brochures, and newsletters related to tourism  in  India.  Promotions  are  also  carried  out  through  the web-site -www.incredibleindia.org and social media handles of the Ministry.
- Thematic tourism like wellness tourism, culinary tourism, rural, eco-tourism, etc. amongst other niche subjects are promoted so as to expand the scope of tourism into other sectors as well.
- Enhance  the  overall  quality  and  visitor  experience  through initiatives focused on capacity building, skill development such as  'Capacity  Building  for  Service  Providers',  'Incredible  India Tourist Facilitator' (IITF), 'Paryatan Mitra' and 'Paryatan Didi'.
- For improving air connectivity to important tourist destinations, Ministry  of  Tourism  has  collaborated  with  Ministry  of  Civil Aviation under their RCS-UDAN Scheme. As on date, 53 tourism routes have been operationalized.
- e-Visa  scheme  is  now  available  to  167  countries  and  it  is available for 9 sub-categories:
- i. e-Tourist Visa
- ii. e-Business Visa
- iii. e-Medical Visa
- iv. e-Conference Visa
- v. e-Medical Attendant Visa
- vi. e-Ayush Visa
- vii. e-Ayush Attendant Visa
- viii. e-Student Visa
- ix. e-Student X Visa

********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.156 ANSWERED ON 03.02.2025 REGARDING DECLINE IN FOREIGN TOURISTS RAISED BY SMT. SAJDA AHMED

The  Details  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  (FTAs)  in  India  from  major Countries during 2022-2023:

| S. No.                | Country        | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)   | Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)   |
|-----------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|                       |                | 2022                              | 2023                              |
| 1                     | Bangladesh     | 12,77,557                         | 21,19,826                         |
| 2                     | United States  | 14,03,399                         | 16,91,498                         |
| 3                     | United Kingdom | 6,41,051                          | 9,20,591                          |
| 4                     | Australia      | 3,76,898                          | 4,56,167                          |
| 5                     | Canada         | 2,89,259                          | 3,85,938                          |
| 6 Sri Lanka           |                | 1,83,459                          | 2,80,327                          |
| 7                     | Malaysia       | 1,26,192                          | 2,62,458                          |
| 8 Germany             |                | 1,41,425                          | 2,23,575                          |
| 9                     | Nepal          | 1,38,203                          | 1,95,445                          |
| 10                    | France         | 1,20,282                          | 1,88,981                          |
| 11                    | Singapore      | 1,32,668                          | 1,83,772                          |
| 12 Russian Federation | 97,911         |                                   | 1,64,125                          |
| 13                    | Japan          | 64,196                            | 1,50,521                          |
| 14 Thailand           |                | 54,367                            | 1,16,060                          |
| 15 Italy              |                | 62,226                            | 1,16,031                          |
| 16 Rep. of Korea      |                | 49,423                            | 97,726                            |
| 17                    | Maldives       | 71,707                            | 83,776                            |
| 18 Netherlands        | 55,019         |                                   | 82,047                            |
| 19                    | Portugal       | 69,522                            | 81,916                            |
| 20                    | Spain          | 39,658                            | 73,412                            |
| 21 New                | Zealand        | 54,974                            | 72,458                            |
| 22                    | Oman           | 56,474                            | 71,980                            |
| 23 United Arab        | Emirates       | 43,702                            | 59,480                            |
| 24                    | Vietnam        | 37,232                            | 57,284                            |
| 25                    | Myanmar        | 15,963                            | 51,235                            |
| 26                    | Philippines    | 28,379                            | 50,064                            |
| 27                    | Kenya          | 35,743                            | 49,574                            |
| 28                    | Israel         | 36,418                            | 44,996                            |

| 29       | South Africa   | 25,860    | 41,969    |
|----------|----------------|-----------|-----------|
| 30       | Switzerland    | 25,255    | 41,004    |
| 31       | Mauritius      | 24,743    | 40,442    |
| 32       | Ireland        | 30,959    | 39,166    |
| 33       | Saudi Arabia   | 18,513    | 39,127    |
| 34       | Belgium        | 24,172    | 36,158    |
| 35       | Iraq           | 36,277    | 36,012    |
| 36       | Sweden         | 22,372    | 36,007    |
| 37       | Poland         | 18,025    | 35,457    |
| 38       | Bhutan         | 20,772    | 35,123    |
| 39       | Turkey         | 18,996    | 33,590    |
| 40       | Indonesia      | 13,961    | 32,677    |
| 41       | China          | 11,762    | 30,585    |
| 42       | Pakistan       | 16,637    | 28,329    |
| 43       | Austria        | 18,375    | 27,420    |
| 44       | Tanzania       | 18,581    | 26,790    |
| 45       | Kazakhstan     | 9,546     | 22,342    |
| 46       | Brazil         | 12,301    | 21,977    |
| 47       | Yemen          | 19,022    | 21,400    |
| 48       | Denmark        | 12,331    | 20,200    |
| 49       | Norway         | 13,449    | 20,057    |
| 50       | Iran           | 13,064    | 18,733    |
| 51       | Mexico         | 8,915     | 16,095    |
| 52       | Egypt          | 9,612     | 15,909    |
| 53       | Sudan          | 24,930    | 14,791    |
| 54       | Bahrain        | 9,959     | 13,932    |
| 55       | Finland        | 8,781     | 12,241    |
| 56 Czech | Republic       | 6,287     | 11,656    |
| 57       | Ukraine        | 7,304     | 11,502    |
| 58       | Nigeria        | 10,072    | 11,466    |
| 59       | Argentina      | 4,720     | 9,985     |
| 60       | Greece         | 4,988     | 9,206     |
| 61       | Hungary        | 4,298     | 8,156     |
| 62       | Afghanistan    | 1,617     | 1,204     |
|          | Others         | 2,07,704  | 3,68,957  |
|          | Grand Total    | 64,37,467 | 95,20,928 |

Source: Bureau of Immigration (BOI)

*********