Visitor numbers in India continue to rise

The trend in foreign visitor numbers to India is encouraging; starting from 17.91 million visitors in 2019, through the COVID-19-related slump in 2020 and 2021, and the resumption of travel in 2022 (14.33 million), the figure is set to rise to 20.57 million visitors in 2024. This represents another significant increase (8.9 per cent) compared with 2023, when the figure stood at 18.89 million.

Breaking this down to Maharashtra – the state with which Karlsruhe also has frequent dealings through its activities – the number of foreign tourist visits to the state rose from 1.512 million in 2022 to 3.388 million in 2023 and further to 3.705 million in 2024.

The “Incredible India” campaign is also said to be helping to boost these figures, as it continues to strengthen the country’s global image as a tourist destination. Incidentally, in 2024, Maharashtra recorded the highest proportion of foreign tourist visits in the whole of India at 17.69 per cent (20.57 million visitors nationwide), according to Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture. The straightforward entry process via e-visas, as well as the expansion of infrastructure to make tourist destinations easier to reach, are also helping to boost the figures.

Travel Facilitation within the Country

The Ministry of Tourism intends to work more closely with airlines and tour operators in future to improve connections to well-known and potential new destinations within the country. A further aim is to simplify travel arrangements for foreign nationals.

You can find some lovely videos of “Incredible India” here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFPTkmQX7JA&list=PLY0S7H8LBX_dNdvEA_AoRU_thsZulleWE

Improving tourism infrastructure

The Indian Ministry of Tourism also supports individual states in the further development of sustainable tourism infrastructure. The focus – in Kerala, amongst other places – is on the restoration and enhancement of religious and spiritual sites, and the development and marketing of specialised tourism offerings.

Visitor Management

Whether it be transport links, hygiene, parking facilities, toilet facilities, security, site development or ‘soft interventions’: India, too, is addressing the issue of visitor management (‘Mitigation of Overcrowding’) at individual tourist destinations. However, ‘destination management’ remains the responsibility of the respective states.

Safety in the country

At the suggestion of the Ministry of Tourism, a ‘Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism’ was recently adopted. This includes the introduction of a dedicated tourist police force in 16 states and union territories, including Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi. In addition, a free emergency and information hotline (1800111363, speed dial 1363) is available to tourists in twelve languages, including ten international languages.

Raising the international profile of destinations

“Incredible India”: Whether at international travel fairs, through tourism roadshows or in collaboration with local tour operators, the Indian Ministry of Tourism – in partnership with states such as Maharashtra and Indian diplomatic missions abroad – is stepping up its international promotion of India as a holistic travel destination.

Information: https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en or at a travel agency in your area

More Photos (in the German version) from Agra, Amritsar, the Attari-Wagah border, Benaulim, Delhi, Goa, Haridwar, Jaipur, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram and Mumbai / Source: © https://www.jowapress.de