Foreign tourism to India on the downturn in recent years: Economic Survey

The Indian Finance Ministry’s Economic Survey 2020 found that foreign tourist arrivals decelerated to 5.2 per cent in 2018 and 2.7 per cent in January-October 2019. 

Among foreign tourist arrivals, 62.4 per cent visited the country for leisure, holiday and recreation, 16.3 per cent for business and 13.5 per cent were NRIs. Photo courtesy: Uttarakhand Tourism

However, despite the slowdown in tourism, India ranked 22nd in the world in terms of international tourist arrivals in 2018, improving from the 26th position in 2017. 

The top five states that attracted the most foreign tourists were Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan, accounting for about 67 per cent of total international travellers in 2018.

Among foreign tourist arrivals, 62.4 per cent visited the country for leisure, holiday and recreation, 16.3 per cent for business and 13.5 per cent were NRIs. 

Foreign tourists from Bangladesh, USA, UK, Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, China, Germany and Russia accounted for 65 per cent of the total arrivals in 2018. 

The top five states attracting domestic tourists included Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra; making up nearly 65 per cent of total domestic tourists in 2018.