Indian Tourism Statistics released a list of the most popular states for domestic tourism.
India saw a steady rise in its international tourism with foregin tourist arrivals experiencing an annual growth rate of 3.5% in 2019. The foreign exchange earnings from tourism alone accounted for 30 billion dollars. Earnings from tourism is around US$30 billion in 2019.
Tamil Nadu was the star in the international tourism sector, recording an international tourist count of 68 lakh. The state also ranked second in terms of domestic tourism accounting for 21.3% of local tourism in the country.
Tourists from Bangladesh accounted for the largest share of international tourists to India followed by those from the USA, UK, Australia and Canada.
Meanswhile, the United Arab Emirates was the most visited country by Indians followed by Saudi Arabia, the USA, Thailand and Singapore.
The list which was released by the Ministry of Tourism on October 20 had Uttar Pradesh dominating the rankings with a tourist count of over 53 crore tourists.
The state accounted for 23.1% of the total domestic tourism in India in 2019. The religious, historical and cultural significance of the state coupled with the tourism incentives.
The ghats of Benaras and the Ganga Aarti on the banks of the holy river are popular with both domestic and international tourists. With over 47 lakh international tourists visiting the state last year, UP was also the third most popular stop for international tourism in the country.