Over three million foreign tourists are expected to attend the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj - double the initial estimate, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday.
This is nearly a third of total foreign tourists visiting India last year.
“Initially we were expecting 1.5 million foreign tourists, but we have revised the estimate. We are now expecting three million overseas tourists to attend the Kumbh Mela,” Shekhawat said in the inaugural session of OTM travel show in Mumbai.
In CY23 India received 95.2 lakh foreign tourists. Foreign exchange earning from tourism amounted to ₹2.3 lakh crore.
Between January to October 2024, the country received 76 lakh foreign tourists, a growth of 2.8 per cent over same period in 2023. Arrivals were, however, 10 per cent lower than 2019.
Pre-Covid figure
Shekhawat said foreign tourist arrivals in India are close to pre-Covid figure. “If we exclude small countries and compare ourselves with established destinations in the Asia Pacific region, I will say our recovery is one of the fastest and the best,” he said. “However, given our opportunity and diversity we have still miles and miles to go,” he remarked.
While domestic tourism has seen an upswing due to rising disposable incomes and infrastructure development over the past ten years, the government is also making it easier for foreign nationals to visit India with e-visas. One lakh free visas have been offered to persons recommended by Indian diaspora members under the Chalo India scheme.
New attractions are being developed like homestays in tribal areas and states are also focusing on adventure tourism. Goa and a few other states have shown interest to develop sky diving facilities, he said.