India recorded 9.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, a 9.4% decline from 2024 and 17% below the pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million. This marks the second consecutive year of falling inbound tourism numbers, indicating a continued downturn for international visitors to the country.
India Sets Ambitious Target of 100 Million Tourists by 2047
At the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Malta, India’s Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced a long-term goal to increase foreign tourist arrivals to 100 million by 2047. He identified four key pillars for reaching this objective: political will, public spending, partnership, and people’s participation. Achieving this target will require an average annual growth
rate of at least 12% over the coming two decades.
Iran War Disrupting Air Corridors, Affecting Long-Haul Traffic
The ongoing Iran War has severed crucial air corridors that connect India with international long-haul markets. This disruption has contributed significantly to the decline in tourist arrivals, limiting access routes for inbound travelers and complicating flight operations to and from India.
PHD Chamber of Commerce Warns of Further Decline in 2026
A recent report from the PHD Chamber of Commerce projects a potential 15-20% drop in inbound tourism to India in 2026 as a consequence of the Iran War’s impact on air route connectivity. This forecast adds pressure to the existing downward trends and underscores the challenges India must overcome
to meet its 2047 arrival target.
