Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Why India Struggles to Attract Foreign Tourists
India has many famous places that tourists might want to visit.
These include historical sites, national parks and mountains.
However, relatively few people from other countries travel there.
Some visitors worry about scams, safety, transportation and visas.
Hotels and flights can also be expensive because many Indians are travelling within the country.
This has made countries such as Sri Lanka and Vietnam look cheaper to some foreign visitors.
Tour operators say India does not advertise itself enough overseas.
They believe more foreign visitors could bring money into the economy and improve the country’s image.
India recorded 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, down 8.1% from the previous year and 16% from 2019.
Tour operators estimate only 2 million to 3 million visitors were foreign sightseers, excluding medical tourists and family visitors.
Reported obstacles include scams, safety concerns, difficult transportation and complicated visa procedures.
Domestic travel surged 46% to 4.29 billion trips, increasing hotel and flight prices for international visitors.
Tourism leaders say India needs stronger overseas marketing; the latest budget allocated ₹3.5 crore for that purpose.
- Who
- India, foreign tourists, domestic travellers and Indian tourism industry representatives.
- What
- India is attracting fewer foreign tourists than expected despite its large number of cultural and natural attractions.
- When
- Last year, with comparisons made to 2019 and the previous year.
- Where
- India, including destinations such as Goa.
- Why
- Reported reasons include safety concerns, scams, difficult transportation, complicated visas, high prices caused by domestic demand and limited overseas marketing.
Domestic Tourism Benefits
Foreign Tourism Concerns
Economic and industry impact
Domestic Tourism Benefits
The growth in domestic tourism shows strong travel demand within India and keeps hotels and destinations busy.
Foreign Tourism Concerns
Tour operators say high domestic demand raises hotel and flight prices, making India less attractive to international visitors.
Tourism promotion
Domestic Tourism Benefits
India has extensive attractions, quality hotels, services and tourism content, according to Dipak Deva.
Foreign Tourism Concerns
Deva and other industry representatives argue that the government is not marketing India sufficiently overseas.
Current tourism priorities
Domestic Tourism Benefits
Domestic visitors now provide substantial demand, including outnumbering foreign tourists in Goa by 20 to 1.
Foreign Tourism Concerns
Industry representatives say attracting more international visitors would bring foreign currency, support the economy and improve India’s image abroad.
- Foreign arrivals
- 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivals were recorded last year.
- Change in arrivals
- Arrivals fell 8.1% from the previous year and were 16% below the 2019 peak of 10.9 million.
- Sightseer estimate
- Ravi Gosain estimated that actual foreign sightseers, excluding medical tourism and family visits, number about 2 million to 3 million.
- Domestic travel
- Domestic trips rose 46% last year to 4.29 billion.
- Tourism receipts
- India’s foreign tourism receipts were reported at $35 billion.
- Marketing allocation
- India’s latest budget allocated ₹3.5 crore for overseas tourism promotion.
- Economic contribution
- Tourism contributed 5.2% of India’s GDP in FY24.