India Breaks Record In International Tourism Spend In 2024

India’s travel and tourism sector has bounced back stronger than ever, with international visitor spending reaching an all-time high of INR 3.1 trillion in 2024. This is 9 per cent higher than the previous peak recorded in 2019, according to the latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The report highlights how India’s tourism landscape has evolved since the pandemic. While domestic travel had been the backbone of recovery in the past few years—with spending rising to INR 15.5 trillion, 22 per cent above 2019 levels—the sharp rise in international arrivals is now fuelling a new phase of growth.

In total, the sector contributed INR 21 trillion to the Indian economy last year, marking a 20 per cent jump from 2019. Travel and tourism also supported 46.5 million jobs, equivalent to 9.1 per cent of the country’s total employment. India welcomed 20 million international visitors in 2024—2.3 million more than in 2019—solidifying its position as a key global destination.

Encouraging Signs, But The Road Ahead Requires Nuance

While WTTC’s report signals optimism, experts suggest there’s more to the picture. “WTTC’s report is very encouraging and shows that our potential is within reach,” said Madan Prasad Bezbaruah, former Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Permanent Representative (Hon.), UN-WTO. “However, we need to understand the numbers better. The Ministry of Tourism differentiates between Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) and International Tourist Arrivals (ITA, which includes NRIs). For 2023, FTAs stood at 9.52 million—87 per cent of 2019 levels—while ITAs were 18.89 million, which is above pre-pandemic numbers.”

He added that robust growth in tourist spending is promising and reflects government efforts to increase both the length of stay and traveller expenditure. “But we must look at it in dollar terms too, adjusting for currency fluctuations and inflation. Earnings in USD were still below 2019,” he noted. “We’re on track, but we haven’t arrived yet.”

Visa Bottlenecks And Policy Push

Despite the positive numbers, challenges remain. Visa delays, especially from key markets like the United States—where tourist appointments are reportedly unavailable until 2026—are slowing further growth. WTTC

President & CEO Julia Simpson noted that simplifying visa processes would be one of the quickest ways to attract more travellers. “We strongly support the government’s plans to simplify the e-visa process,” she said. “Making it easier to visit India will help unlock more international arrivals and spending.”

Bezbaruah acknowledged the concern: “India has rightly adopted an extensive e-visa programme, but visa policy goes beyond tourism—issues like security and reciprocity come into play. That said, the United States is a vital source market and delays, if true, go against the very idea of tourism. Our policy should reflect our self-interest.”

Meanwhile, to boost India’s voice in the global tourism landscape, the WTTC also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the WTTC India Initiative (WTTCII). This partnership strengthens policy coherence and aligns national and international tourism goals.

A Look Ahead

WTTC forecasts another strong year in 2025, with tourism’s contribution to India’s economy expected to surpass INR 22 trillion and sectoral employment projected to cross 48 million. International visitor spending is likely to reach INR 3.2 trillion, while domestic travel spending is set to hit INR 16 trillion.

By 2035, the travel and tourism sector could contribute nearly INR 42 trillion to the economy and support almost 64 million jobs. The report points to growing demand for luxury travel and greater opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises as key growth drivers.

“The industry already faces a shortage of qualified manpower,” said Bezbaruah. “As demand grows, this gap will widen. We must plan for skilling, especially in tech, and extend tourism into Tier 2 and 3 cities. Employment won’t just be direct—indirect job creation through supply-side growth is equally critical.”

He also stressed the importance of sustained and imaginative global marketing, particularly in light of recent budget cuts for overseas tourism promotion. “New-age travellers seek specific, engaging content. India’s rise as an economic power must also be reflected in our tourism brand,” he said.

However, the WTTC emphasised that sustaining this positive trajectory will depend on continued investment, infrastructure enhancements, and consistent support for international tourism promotion. It also encouraged the government to reconsider recent reductions in overseas marketing budgets to help maintain India’s appeal as a leading global destination.

“We need policy that supports local tourism entrepreneurs,” said Bezbaruah. “Streamlining Ease of Doing Business, offering incentives like infrastructure status, and creating advisory cells at the state level—with industry, start-up, and skilling departments—will go a long way.”