After several years of steady growth, the number of Indians visiting the United States has seen a notable decline this summer. According to data from the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), 210,000 Indians travelled to the US in June 2025.
This marks an 8 percent drop compared to 230,000 in June 2024, making it the first such fall since 2001, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic years.
Provisional data for July 2025 also points to a continuing downward trend, with a 5.5 percent decline in arrivals compared to the same month last year. This drop in Indian visitor numbers is part of a broader global pattern.
Overall international arrivals to the US have also decreased, with NTTO figures showing a 6.2 percent fall in June, 7 percent in May, 8 percent in March, and 1.9 percent in February. Only January and April saw growth, with 4.7 percent and 1.3 percent increases, respectively.
Despite the current slowdown, India remains the fourth largest source of international visitors to the United States. When excluding neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico, which share land borders with the US, India stands as the second largest overseas market after the United Kingdom. Brazil ranks fifth.
Together, these five countries accounted for nearly 60 percent of all international arrivals to the US in June.
Traditionally, Indian travellers to the United States include students, business professionals, and people visiting friends and family. Leisure travel to the US has remained limited, as destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe are often more popular for holidays.
The current dip is being seen most sharply among students, though business and family travel may also be impacted in the coming months if visa delays and other constraints continue.
The Indian diaspora in the United States, numbering over 5 million, has long supported a steady flow of travel between the two countries. Until now, every June since 2001 had recorded an increase in the number of Indian visitors over the previous year. That trend has now reversed.
Meanwhile, travel from India to international destinations remained strong in April 2025, with 2.9 million people flying abroad. The United Arab Emirates was the top destination, followed by Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, and the United States.
