Inbound tourism to India to surpass 2019 levels by 2025: Booking

Inbound tourism to India to surpass 2019 levels by 2025: Booking

Offbeat destinations gain popularity among international visitors

The survey states that 52 pc of inbound travellers view India as a standalone destination (MIG Photos)

A report by online travel firm Booking.com predicts that foreign tourist arrivals in India are expected to reach the pre-pandemic level by next year.

The number of overseas visitors to India is expected to climb back to the 2019 levels in 2025, after a gap of almost six years, due to the massive disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is one of the key findings of the second edition of How India Travels 2024 – The Inbound Edit, a report prepared by online travel agency Booking in collaboration with consultancy firm Accenture.

Santosh Kumar

“In 2019, India welcomed 10.9 million inbound tourists. Our projections for this year indicate that this number will approach 10.1 million, and by 2025, we expect inbound tourist numbers to surpass the 2019 record,” says Santosh Kumar, Country Head for the Indian subcontinent & Indonesia, Booking.com.

The report indicates that ongoing investments in tourist infrastructure, enhanced international connectivity, and strategic marketing of India as a vibrant and diverse destination has positioned the country to surpass its 2019 inbound tourism levels by 2025.

It also states that the Indian tourism industry is evolving to offer rich and authentic experiences to foreign travellers which are being supported by strategic initiatives to cater to both luxury and budget travellers.

The report also reveals that while China, Bangladesh and Canada have traditionally been the source markets for inbound tourism in India, 2024 witnessed a shift with the US, Hong Kong and United Kingdom becoming frontrunners in terms of searches for travel to India.

Based on a study of 2,000 adult respondents across 19 countries who intend to travel to India in the next 12-24 months, the survey states that 52 pc of inbound travellers view India as a standalone destination, while 22 pc prefer to combine their itineraries with other Asian countries. Almost 44 pc of the respondents says have already visited India and wish to return.

The most popular regions in India for inbound travellers are northern India, attracting 67 pc visitors, closely followed by southern India at 66 pc. The eastern region draws 57 pc of international travellers, while the Western region appeals to 51 pc. In contrast, Central India sees significantly fewer visitors, with only 14 pc of international arrivals. International travellers are increasingly drawn to destinations like Hampi and Leh, with offbeat locations such as Patnitop, Khajuraho, Vijayawada and Pahalgam also gaining popularity.

The report also sites data from Indian Ministry of Tourism which says that foreign exchange earnings from tourism surged to USD 15.3 billion in the first half of 2024 which represents an increase of 17.6 pc compared to 2023 and a 5.5 pc rise since 2019.

The study also highlights challenges faced by travellers coming to India, such as limited customisation options and an overwhelming amount of information that can detract from their overall experience. Addressing these issues is essential for the tourism industry to enhance traveller satisfaction.

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