Page last updated: 13 July 2025
India offers a variety of experiences, showcasing its diverse culture, historical landmarks, spiritual destinations, and natural beauty, attracting millions of visitors annually.
How many people visit India each year?
Over 9.66 million international tourists visited India in 2024. 1
- In 2019, India welcomed 10.93 million international visitors. When the pandemic began in 2020, this number dropped by 74.9% to 2.74 million.
- By 2021, India experienced a further 44.5% decline in international tourism with 1.52 million visitors.
- Inbound tourism rose to 6.98 million visitors in 2022, and the increasing trend continued in 2023 with 9.23 million visitors. However, this was still 15.6% less than 2019 (pre-pandemic).
- In 2024, international visitor arrivals reached 9.66 million, representing a 4.7% increase over 2023 but remaining 11.6% below 2019 levels.
How many tourists visited India in 2025?
- Through February 2025, India welcomed 1.81 million foreign tourists, with February arrivals down 8.7% year-on-year, underscoring both seasonal variation and a gradual recovery trajectory.
2025 Monthly Arrivals to India
| Year | 2025 Foreign tourists Arrivals |
| Jan | 901 K |
| Feb | 916 K |
How many tourists visited India in 2024?
- In 2024, India received 9.66 million international tourists, a 4.7% rise over 2023 yet still 11.6% below the 2019 peak.
How many tourists visited India in 2023?
- In 2023, India welcomed a total of 2.52 billion visitors, with 9.23 million being international tourists and 2.51 billion domestic travellers.
- While 2019 was the peak year for international arrivals, 2023 set a new record for domestic travel with over 2.5 billion visitors, surpassing the 2019 total of 2.3 billion.
How much do tourists spend in India every year?
In FY2024, international visitor spending reached ₹3.10 trillion, up 12.7% over FY2023.
- Inbound tourist expenditure in India generated ₹1.49 trillion in FY2019. This number decreased to ₹0.55 trillion in FY2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors.
- However, it increased by 14.5% in FY2021 to ₹0.63 trillion.
- India ranked 14th in terms of the highest international tourism revenue in FY2022, with international tourists spending ₹1.11 trillion, marking a 76.2% increase over FY2021.
- In FY2023, international visitor spending increased to ₹2.75 trillion, exceeding the pre-pandemic level.
How much do tourists spend in India in 2024?
- In 2024, international visitor spending reached ₹3.10 trillion, up 12.7% over 2023.
- In the same year, domestic tourist spending amounted to ₹15.5 trillion, making it roughly five times the international total.
How much did tourists spend in India in 2023?
- In FY 2023, international visitor spending surged to ₹2.75 trillion (approximately US $28.08 billion), a 147.7% increase over FY 2022 and 84.6% above the pre-pandemic FY 2019 level.
Which country visits India the most?
The leading sources of foreign tourists to India are from the United States, followed by Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.
- In 2024, the United States was the top source of international visitors to India, accounting for 1,751,200 visits (18.14% market share). Bangladesh was next with 1,696,800 visits (17.57% market share).
- The United Kingdom accounted for 992,300 visits (10.28% share).
- 502,200 tourists were from Australia and 461,600 from Canada, with shares of 5.20% and 4.78%, respectively.
How long do visitors stay in India?
- The average length of stay for international tourists is 27.44 nights, though this figure can be influenced by long-stay visitors like students or those on extended business.
- Domestic tourists spend 16.7 nights exploring India’s popular cities and attractions.
- The typical length of stay for foreign visitors to India ranges from 6.4 to 24.5 days.
Economic Impact – India Tourism Statistics
India’s travel and tourism sector contributed ₹20.9 trillion (US $249.3 billion) to GDP in 2024, representing 6.6% of the national economy. 2
- The sector supported 46.5 million jobs in 2024, equivalent to 9.1% of total employment.
- International visitor spending reached ₹3.10 trillion (US $36.8 billion) in 2024, while domestic visitor spending amounted to ₹15.5 trillion (US $185.6 billion).
What are India’s peak tourist months?
The five peak months by foreign tourist arrivals in India were December, February, January, November, and March:
- December welcomed 1,028,000 visitors, with popular destinations like Rajasthan, Goa, and Kerala offering pleasant weather and festive events.
- February saw 1,003,000 arrivals, driven by the end of winter and festivals such as Valentine’s Day and local cultural fairs.
- January recorded 959,000 tourists, influenced by New Year celebrations and winter festivals like the Jaipur Literature Festival.
- November attracted 948,000 visitors, coinciding with Diwali festivities and the onset of the cool season in key regions.
- March brought in 860,000 travelers, drawn by Holi celebrations and the beginning of the spring climate in hill-station areas.
India Tourism Statistics 2024 – International & Domestic
In 2024, international visitor arrivals reached 9.66 million, 11.6% below the 2019 figure of 10.93 million but 4.7% above the 2023 level. Domestic visitor data for 2024 is not yet available.
In 2023, a total of 2.52 billion international and domestic tourists visited India.
- Domestic travellers accounted for 2.51 billion, making up 99% of the total tourists, while international tourists amounted to 9.23 million.
- The vast majority of visitors to India are domestic travellers, consistently comprising above 90% of the total visitors.
International and Domestic Visitors in India Each Year
| Year | International (in millions) | Domestic (in millions) |
| 2011 | 6.31 | 864.5 |
| 2012 | 6.58 | 1,045.1 |
| 2013 | 6.97 | 1,142.5 |
| 2014 | 7.68 | 1,282.8 |
| 2015 | 8.03 | 1,432.0 |
| 2016 | 8.80 | 1,615.4 |
| 2017 | 10.04 | 1,657.6 |
| 2018 | 10.56 | 1,853.8 |
| 2019 | 10.93 | 2,322.0 |
| 2020 | 2.74 | 610.2 |
| 2021 | 1.52 | 677.6 |
| 2022 | 6.44 | 1,731.0 |
| 2023 | 9.23 | 2,509.0 |
| 2024 | 9.66 | – |
Why do people visit India?
People still visit India mainly for leisure and holidays, with 4.33 million visitors (44.8%) drawn by its cultural, historical, and scenic attractions.
- Many people visit India for varied reasons.
- The Indian diaspora alone accounted for 21% of visits, showing strong ties to the country.
The Indian diaspora alone accounted for 2.73 million visits (28.3%), showing strong ties to the country. - Business and professional trips brought in 850,000 tourists (8.8%), while 630,000 (6.5%) travellers came for medical purposes, attracted by India’s healthcare.
- About 58, 000 (0.6%) visited for education, and 1.06 million (11.0%) for reasons like religious tourism, cultural exchanges, and family visits.
- The Indian diaspora alone accounted for 21% of visits, showing strong ties to the country.
Which attractions are the most visited in India?
- The Taj Mahal is the most visited attraction in India with 369,600 international visitors in 2022. It is an iconic white marble mausoleum in Agra, built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
- Agra Fort (139,400 visitors) is a UNESCO World Heritage site that was the main residence of the Mughal emperors.
- Qutub Minar (115,247 visitors) is the tallest brick minaret in the world, located in Delhi and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Humayun’s Tomb (100,136 visitors) is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Delhi, known for its Mughal architecture and Persian-style gardens.
- Fatehpur Sikri (62,238 visitors) is a historic city near Agra, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its Mughal architecture.
How many people visit the Taj Mahal each year?
In 2024, approximately 6.10 million visitors came to the Taj Mahal, a 20.7% rise from the 5.05 million recorded in 2023. Though a specific visitor breakdown for the Taj Mahal in 2024 has not been released, Agra as a whole, welcomed 125.1 million tourists during the year, of whom 115.9 million were domestic and 0.92 million international visitors.
- A total of 5.44 million tourists visited Taj Mahal in 2022. This includes 5.05 million domestic visitors and 396,600 international tourists.
How many people visit the National Museum of India every year?
- The National Museum of India in New Delhi receives between 600,000 and 700,000 visitors each year, with 2,500 to 3,000 visitors per day.
- The National Museum of India has over 200,000 works of art but only displays six to seven per cent of its collection at any given time. The remaining works are exhibited in temporary exhibitions or on a rotational basis.
Asia Travel Statistics Resources
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- India Statistics
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- Israel Statistics
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- Malaysia Statistics
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