India registered 9.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025, a decline of 9.4% from 2024’s figures and 17% below the pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million. This marks the second consecutive year of decreasing inbound visitors.
India Revises Long-Term Tourism Goal
At the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Malta, Indian Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced a revised tourism target of 100 million international arrivals by 2047. Reaching this goal requires an average annual growth rate exceeding 12%. Shekhawat highlighted four strategic pillars for success: political will, public spending, partnership, and people’s participation.
Geopolitical Conflict and 2026 Outlook
The ongoing Iran War has disrupted key air corridors used by
long-haul travelers, negatively impacting inbound tourism to India. The PHD Chamber of Commerce projects a further 15-20% decline in foreign arrivals for 2026 due to these severed routes.
Despite political determination and planned expenditure, India currently lacks a published detailed roadmap to achieve the ambitious 2047 target. This gap raises concerns about the feasibility of sustaining the necessary high annual growth amid recent declines.
Challenges in Reversing Tourism Decline
The decline in foreign tourist arrivals over two years, coupled with deteriorating air connectivity linked to geopolitical tensions, presents significant obstacles. Achieving a 100 million visitor target by 2047 would require unprecedented growth far exceeding recent
trends.
Tourism Minister Shekhawat emphasized the four Ps strategy but no specific operational plans have been disclosed to guide the sector through these challenges.
