Tourism in India has seen a significant boost, resulting in an increase in foreign exchange earnings.
In April 2024, foreign exchange income from tourism rose by 2.90% year-on-year to Rs 17,909 crore, compared to Rs 17,405 crore in April 2023. The Ministry of Tourism’s monthly report for April highlights these figures.
From January to April 2024, the foreign exchange income from tourism increased by 27.18% year-on-year to Rs 90,600 crore, up from Rs 71,235 crore in the same period last year.
Surge in Tourist Arrivals
The number of foreign tourists visiting India also grew significantly. In April 2024, 6,50,748 foreign tourists arrived in India, marking a 7.7% increase from 6,03,985 in April 2023.
From January to April 2024, a total of 34,71,833 foreign tourists visited India, compared to 31,33,751 during the same period last year.
Major Source Countries
The report identifies the top countries from which tourists arrived in April 2024.
Bangladesh topped the list with 26.30% of the tourists, followed by the United States (13.74%), the United Kingdom (8.36%), Australia (4.41%), and Canada (3.55%). Among the foreign tourists, 50.07% were men and 40.92% were women.
Top 5 Destinations for Foreign Tourists
The Ministry of Tourism’s report lists the five most popular destinations for foreign tourists in April 2024:
- Delhi – 31.27%
- Mumbai – 13.16%
- Haridaspur, Odisha – 10.85%
- Chennai – 8.08%
- Bengaluru – 6.72%
Additionally, 25,27,697 Indian citizens traveled abroad in April 2024, a 15.56% increase from 21,87,313 in April 2023.
The increase in foreign tourists and the surge in foreign exchange earnings underscore India’s growing appeal as a global travel destination.
