1 / 11Tourism is more than leisure and travel; it’s vital for the economy. It creates millions of direct and indirect jobs and brings essential foreign exchange to the national treasury. Although India is becoming a key destination, it still doesn’t rank among the top 10 countries for foreign tourist arrivals. (Image: Shutterstock)
2 / 111) In 2024, India’s Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism reached $35.01 billion, reflecting an 8.78% increase from 2023, which garnered $32.189 billion. Notably, India earned only $3.2 billion in FEEs back in 2001. (Image: Shutterstock)
3 / 112) In 2024, India represented 1.40% of total international arrivals and contributed 2.02% to global tourism revenue. India was positioned 15th in total foreign exchange earnings from tourism, a significant improvement from 2001 when it was ranked 36th with a mere 0.69% of the global share. (Image: AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
4 / 113) In FY24, the tourism sector in India created about 84.63 million jobs, both direct and indirect. This sector contributed 5.22% to the nation’s GDP, with the direct contribution valued at ₹8,18 lakh crore. (Image: AP Photo)
5 / 114) In 2024, India recorded 20.57 million International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs), placing it 20th. However, 51.6% of the ITAs were non-resident Indians, with over 10.6 million NRIs entering the country, marking a 52.15% rise compared to the pre-pandemic level in 2019. (Image: Shutterstock)
6 / 115) Although overall ITAs surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, the number of foreign tourists remains below the figures recorded in 2019. In 2024, more than 9.95 million foreign tourists visited India, 9% lower than 2019. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 116) The United States, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada were the top five sources of foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, collectively accounting for 51% of total arrivals in India. (Image: AP Photo/Shonal Ganguly)
8 / 117) Maharashtra drew the highest number of international tourists in India, with over 3.7 million visitors. Following closely were West Bengal with 3.12 million and Uttar Pradesh with 2.27 million. (Image: Canva)
9 / 118) The annual report cites major government investments, the addition of 517 new air routes, 157 airports, and an expanded road network of 145,000 kilometers as factors that elevated India’s rankings in price competitiveness (18th), air transport (26th), and ground and port infrastructure (25th). India was ranked 39th overall in the Travel and Tourism Development Index last year. (Image: Shutterstock)
10 / 119) Medical tourism has emerged as a significant contributor to foreign tourist numbers, accounting for 6.48% of total foreign arrivals in 2024. South Asia (20.27%), Africa (18.93%), and West Asia (17.88%) were the leading regions for medical tourism last year. Additionally, India ranked 10th on the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) in 2024. (Image: PTI)
11 / 1110) India’s winter months drew the largest number of foreign tourists, with December alone accounting for 10.66% of total FTAs in 2024. When combined with February (10.37%), January (9.86%), and November (9.79%), the winter season comprised over 40% of total arrivals. (Image: Reuters)
