- Foreign tourism expected to stay flat.
- Up to 9 million arrivals are expected in 2026.
- Industry calls for renewed overseas marketing.
FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS in India are expected to remain flat this year as global conflicts push up oil prices and travel costs. Industry representatives are calling for renewed overseas marketing.
The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality estimated that 8-9 million foreign tourists will visit India in 2026, compared with 9.15 million in 2025. The 2025 figure was itself down 8.1 percent from 2024 and 16.3 percent below 2019 levels.
India received about 534,000 foreign tourists in April, down 14.3 percent from a year earlier and 31 percent from April 2019, The Economic Times reported, citing the FAITH data.
"There is very insignificant to non-existent interest in the destination, as stated by foreign travel agents and the tour operator community," said Rajeev Kohli, Creative Travel joint managing director, according to the Times. "Eight to 9 million may be the case, but it's most certainly not a point to rejoice about, given that the destination is still below our pre-Covid numbers."
Kohli said India has been absent from overseas markets for years and needs greater visibility to attract tourists and strengthen its position internationally.
“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,” he told the Times.
Kohli said even spending about $5.3 million on a series of smart homegrown social media posts, AI videos and the likes, which could be distributed to the private sector for larger circulation, would tremendously benefit the sales efforts of inbound tour operators.
Puneet Chhatwal, FAITH chairman and chief executive of Indian Hotels Co. Ltd., echoed the call for more international marketing.
“Domestic travel remains strong, but attracting foreign tourists is the sector's biggest opportunity,” he said.
Sunil Mishra, Cosmos Travels’ managing director, expects inbound tourism to grow 10 to 15 percent in the coming season, provided travel conditions remain favorable.
“About 20 percent of inbound business from China is held up over visa issues, which he expects to be resolved after the BRICS summit in New Delhi on Sept. 11 to 13,” he said.
Aashish Gupta, FAITH consulting chief executive, attributed the decline to the wars in Iran and Ukraine, higher fuel prices and airfares, and the absence of international marketing.
A PhillipCapital report expects India’s hotel industry to grow faster in the second half of fiscal 2027, driven by leisure, corporate and international travel.
