India’s tourism industry is growing, but there is still one important area where the country has not fully recovered: foreign visitors.
Industry experts expect the number of international tourists visiting India in 2026 to remain close to last year’s level. The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH) expects around 8–9 million foreign tourists this year. In 2025, India recorded about 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivals.
The numbers are still below the level India saw before the Covid pandemic. In 2019, India received about 10.93 million foreign tourists. The 2025 figure was around 16% lower than that.
One reason for the slower recovery is the rising cost of international travel. Higher fuel prices have pushed up airfares, making long-distance trips more expensive. Global conflicts and uncertainty are also making some people think twice before travelling abroad.
Another issue is how India promotes itself to travellers in other countries. Tourism industry representatives believe that India needs stronger and more regular international marketing to remind people about its destinations, culture, food, beaches, wildlife and heritage.
There is, however, a positive side. India continues to attract large numbers of domestic travellers, and some international markets are performing well. Government data also shows that international tourist arrivals, which include foreign tourists and NRIs, have moved above the 2019 level.
The challenge is therefore not that people have stopped travelling to India. The bigger question is how India can attract more foreign visitors and bring the foreign tourist market back to stronger growth.
With better global promotion, easier travel, more international air connections and continued investment in tourism, India has a large opportunity to increase its share of the global travel market.
