India to welcome 4.78 million foreign tourists in the first half of 2024, Bangladesh and the United States lead the way – Travel & Tourism News

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India rose to nearly 4.78 million in the first half of 2024, with Bangladesh and the United States emerging as the top two source countries. While inbound tourism is showing signs of recovery, it still lags behind pre-pandemic levels, casting a shadow over India’s efforts to regain its position as a global tourism hotspot.

The ministry released the data on the occasion of World Tourism Day, offering insight into tourism trends in June and January-June. The number of free trade agreements as of June 2024 was 706,045, an increase of 9% compared to June 2023 but a decrease of 2.8% compared to the same month in 2019. Total number of free trade agreements for January-June was 4.78 million, an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period in 2023, but still 9.8 cents below the pre-pandemic value in 2019.

The largest contributors were Bangladesh and the United States, contributing 21.55% and 17.56% of the total FTAs, respectively. The top five were completed by Great Britain (9.82%), Canada (4.5%) and Australia (4.32%). In June, Bangladesh retained the lead with 28.49%, followed by the United States with 22.59%.

The post-pandemic recovery is not keeping pace with global trends

Despite a marked improvement in tourist numbers, India’s recovery is worse than the global average. A Crisil Market Intelligence report found that by mid-2024, free trade agreements globally had reached 96% of pre-pandemic levels, while in India the figure was around 90%. With 10.93 million free trade agreements registered in 2019, India still has a long way to go to achieve full economic recovery.

Foreign exchange earnings (FEE) tell a clearer story about the noticeable growth in tourism earnings. India earned $15.33 billion in January-June, up from $13.04 billion in 2023 and surpassing 2019’s $14.53 billion.

Outbound tourism boom in India

While inbound tourism is slowly recovering, outbound travel has increased in India. The Ministry of Tourism said that 15 million Indians traveled abroad in the first half of 2024, an increase of 13.7% compared to the same period in 2023. Rising disposable incomes and better air connectivity have made international travel a steady become more accessible to Indians, who currently account for 2.4 percent of the global outbound market.

Initiatives and awards of the Ministry of Tourism

On World Tourism Day, the Ministry of Tourism also recognized 36 villages from across India for the Best Tourism Villages 2024, recognizing their contribution to sustainable and diversified tourism. The winners included Aru in Jammu and Kashmir for adventure tourism, Kumarakom in Kerala for agritourism and Pranpur in Madhya Pradesh for handicrafts.

To enhance tourist experience and engagement, the ministry plans to introduce feedback mechanisms at airports and railway stations across the country, enabling visitors to share their thoughts on India’s tourist destinations.

Challenges lie ahead

Despite tourism experts’ optimism, concerns remain. Former Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh acknowledged the impact of geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East, which could hamper full economic recovery by the end of 2024. However, as international travel returns to normal, India remains poised for a stronger comeback, driven by unique attractions and emerging tourism initiatives.

(With agency participation)