India Inbound Tourism Stagnates Near 9 Million Arrivals
Trade leaders urge an overseas marketing push as arrivals remain below pre-Covid levels amid geopolitical tensions and visa delays.
The short answer
India's inbound foreign arrivals are forecast to linger between 8 and 9 million in 2026, falling short of 2019 volumes. Tourism leaders are pressing for state-level overseas advertising campaigns and expedited visas to revive demand.
“As of now, we have been completely absent from international markets for the last few years. Selling travel is like selling any consumer product, be it shoes, phones or cars”
The short version
- FAITH forecasts 8 to 9 million foreign tourist arrivals in India for 2026, down from 9.15 million in 2025.
- April foreign tourist arrivals plunged 14.3 percent year-on-year and 31 percent below April 2019 figures.
- Cosmos Travels reports 20 percent of Chinese inbound travel is held up by visa bottlenecks ahead of the BRICS summit.
Foreign tourist arrivals to India are projected to remain flat at 8 to 9 million visitors in 2026, failing to recover to pre-pandemic benchmarks as overseas marketing lags, flight expenses mount, and regional conflicts constrain global passenger movements [1]. Hotel executives and tour operators are demanding state-backed international promotion to restore inbound business [1].
What are the official foreign arrival projections for India?
The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality projects India will draw between 8 million and 9 million foreign tourists in 2026 [1]. As reported by Asian Hospitality, this total drops below the 9.15 million overseas arrivals recorded in 2025 [1]. The 2025 arrival figures were down 8.1 percent compared to 2024 and trailed 2019 volumes by 16.3 percent [1].
Monthly figures show an ongoing contraction. India welcomed approximately 534,000 foreign visitors in April, representing a 14.3 percent drop from April of the prior year and a 31 percent drop compared to April 2019, according to FAITH figures cited by The Economic Times [1].
| Metric | Volume or Percentage Change | Baseline Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Projected Arrivals (2026) | 8.0 to 9.0 million visitors | Down from 9.15 million in 2025 |
| Full-Year Arrivals (2025) | 9.15 million visitors | Down 8.1% vs 2024; down 16.3% vs 2019 |
| April Arrivals | 534,000 visitors | Down 14.3% vs April prior year; down 31% vs April 2019 |
| Proposed Marketing Allocation | $5.3 million | Suggested for social media and AI video assets |
| Chinese Inbound Pipeline Impasse | 20% of inbound business | Held up by pending visa clearances |
Why are international visitor volumes struggling to rebound?
Multiple external pressures and promotional gaps have suppressed inbound travel demand. Aashish Gupta, FAITH consulting chief executive, pointed out that international visitor declines stem from wars in Iran and Ukraine, inflated aviation fuel prices, higher airfares, and an absence of international marketing campaigns [1].
Tour operators note that foreign markets lack basic awareness of Indian travel products. Rajeev Kohli, joint managing director at Creative Travel, told The Economic Times that interest in India among foreign travel agents and inbound operators is very insignificant to non-existent [1]. Kohli stated that India has remained absent from overseas promotional markets for years, warning that stagnant arrivals below pre-pandemic figures offer no reason to rejoice [1].
What marketing budget do inbound operators advocate?
Private operators argue that international travel demand requires direct brand exposure comparable to retail products. Kohli observed that marketing destinations mirrors selling consumer goods such as shoes, phones, or cars [1].
Kohli suggested allocating approximately $5.3 million toward homegrown social media posts and AI videos [1]. These digital assets could be distributed across private travel companies to assist their foreign sales efforts and rebuild international visibility [1]. Puneet Chhatwal, FAITH chairman and chief executive of Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., similarly stated that while domestic travel remains strong, attracting international travelers serves as the biggest commercial opening for operators [1].
How are visa bottlenecks affecting inbound traffic?
Visa processing delays continue to block foreign group travel from major outbound territories. Sunil Mishra, managing director of Cosmos Travels, noted that roughly 20 percent of inbound business originating from China remains held up over visa hurdles [1].
Mishra expects this blockage to clear following the BRICS summit scheduled for September 11 to 13 in New Delhi [1]. If general operating conditions remain favorable, Mishra anticipates inbound travel volumes will expand by 10 to 15 percent in the upcoming season [1].
When will hotel performance indicators accelerate?
Domestic lodging operators continue to depend on internal travel until foreign bookings pick up. A report by PhillipCapital cited by Asian Hospitality projects India's hotel industry will experience faster growth in the second half of fiscal 2027 [1]. This rebound is anticipated to draw momentum from combined leisure bookings, corporate functions, and recovering international visitor arrivals [1].
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This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]India Inbound Tourism Stagnates as Leaders Urge Ad Push— asianhospitality.com
Frequently asked
+What is the foreign arrival forecast for India in 2026?
The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality projects India will receive between 8 million and 9 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026, which is lower than the 9.15 million arrivals recorded in 2025.
+How did foreign tourist arrivals perform in 2025 compared to previous years?
India logged 9.15 million foreign arrivals in 2025. That volume reflects an 8.1 percent drop compared to 2024 and remains 16.3 percent below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
+What factors are suppressing foreign arrivals to India?
Arrivals are suppressed by the ongoing wars in Iran and Ukraine, higher oil prices and airfares, visa delays on inbound Chinese travelers, and an extended absence of Indian destination marketing in overseas markets.
+What advertising push have inbound tour leaders suggested?
Creative Travel joint managing director Rajeev Kohli recommended an expenditure of about $5.3 million to develop social media campaigns and AI promotional videos that can be shared with the private travel trade.
+When is Indian hotel revenue expected to pick up pace?
A PhillipCapital report projects that India's hotel industry will experience faster growth during the second half of fiscal 2027, propelled by corporate business, domestic leisure, and international travel.
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