India’s Tourist Arrivals Lag Behind Global Trend in 2024
In the first half of 2024, India welcomed 4.78 million foreign tourists, which is about 90% of the number seen in the first half of 2019, before the pandemic. According to a report by Crisil, several factors are contributing to this slower recovery.
Factors Affecting Tourist Arrivals
One major factor is the reduced demand from Bangladesh due to its current political situation. Additionally, the suspension of direct flights from China has also impacted tourist numbers. In 2019, tourists from Bangladesh and China made up 27% of all arrivals in India.
Other countries like Qatar, Dubai, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are attracting more tourists with affordable options and easier visa policies. These destinations have even exceeded their pre-Covid tourist numbers, with Qatar seeing a 47% increase, Dubai 11%, Vietnam 4%, and Sri Lanka 0.2% in the first half of 2024.
Suggestions for Improvement
Crisil suggests that India should simplify its visa process by expanding e-visa and visa-on-arrival programs, similar to Thailand and Sri Lanka. Improving direct flight connectivity with key markets could also help. Using social media influencers to promote India in target regions is another recommendation.
Positive Trends
On a positive note, foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India rose by 23% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2019. This indicates that tourists are spending more, likely due to a 20% increase in five-star hotel rates and a growing preference for luxury experiences. The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar has also made travel to India more affordable for foreign tourists, boosting their spending power.
Outbound Tourism
Meanwhile, Indian tourists are traveling abroad more, with a 12% increase in departures over pre-Covid levels in the first half of 2024. Rising disposable incomes, better airline connectivity, and streamlined visa processes have made international travel more accessible for Indians.
Doubts Revealed
Tourist Arrivals -: This means the number of people from other countries who come to visit India.
Global Trend -: This refers to the general pattern or direction in which the number of tourists is moving around the world.
Pre-pandemic 2019 levels -: This means the number of tourists that came to India before the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2019.
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a neighboring country to India, and many tourists come from there to visit India.
Direct flights from China -: This means airplanes that travel straight from China to India without stopping in other countries.
Qatar and Dubai -: These are places in the Middle East that many tourists visit. They are doing better than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crisil -: Crisil is a company that gives advice on how to improve businesses and economies.
Visa processes -: This means the steps people from other countries need to take to get permission to visit India.
Flight connectivity -: This means how easy it is to travel to India by airplane from different parts of the world.
Foreign exchange earnings -: This is the money India earns from tourists who spend their own country’s money while visiting.
Luxury experiences -: These are expensive and high-quality activities or services that tourists enjoy, like staying in fancy hotels or eating at top restaurants.
