Lok Sabha Question No. 1421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Decline in Foreign Tourist Arrivals
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1421 ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## DECLINE IN FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS

## 1421.  SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that foreign tourist arrivals dipped in the country for the first time after Covid pandemic 2019 outbreak;
- (b) whether it is true that only 69.8 lakh foreign tourists arrived in India till October, 2025 as against 76.81 lakh in the same period in 2024;
- (c) whether it is also a fact that the drop in foreign tourist arrivals is expected to have a big impact on tourism in the country;
- (d) whether it is also true that the devaluation of Indian currency is expected to attract more foreign tourists to the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM         (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (c):   The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (post pandemic) from 2019 to 2024 is as follows:

## Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2019 to 2024:

|   Year | FTAs        |
|--------|-------------|
|   2019 | 1,09,30,355 |
|   2020 | 27,44,766   |
|   2021 | 15,27,114   |
|   2022 | 64,37,467   |
|   2023 | 95,20,928   |
|   2024 | 99,51,722   |

Source: Bureau of Immigration

The month-wise data for year 2024 and 2025 till Oct is provided below:

| Month-wise FTA for year 2024 and 2025 till Oct. Month   | Month-wise FTA for year 2024 and 2025 till Oct. Month   | Month-wise FTA for year 2024 and 2025 till Oct. Month   |
|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
| Month Name                                              | 2024                                                    | 2025*                                                   |
| January                                                 | 9,81,609                                                | 9,56,988                                                |
| February                                                | 10,32,301                                               | 9,15,713                                                |
| March                                                   | 8,93,021                                                | 7,42,108                                                |
| April                                                   | 6,72,684                                                | 6,25,874                                                |
| May                                                     | 6,22,189                                                | 4,74,308                                                |
| June                                                    | 7,22,615                                                | 5,47,855                                                |
| July                                                    | 7,99,842                                                | 6,68,612                                                |
| August                                                  | 6,61,322                                                | 6,27,555                                                |
| September                                               | 6,91,247                                                | 6,23,845                                                |
| October                                                 | 8,40,330                                                | 7,97,542                                                |
| Total                                                   | 79,17,160                                               | 69,80,400                                               |

Source: Bureau of Immigration | *Provisional

(d) & (e): It  depends  on  several  factors  such  as  ease  of  visa  norms, safety  and  security,  promotional  and  marketing  efforts,  foreign  policy environment,  and  other  considerations,  including  affordability  of  travel costs and favourable exchange rates. While a depreciation of the Indian currency may make travel more economical for foreign visitors, it is only one of the many factors influencing foreign tourist arrivals.

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