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Singapore Media Reports India Reopening Its Tourism Market To China After A Five-year Suspension Caused By Border Tensions

Published on
August 11, 2025 |
India has reopened its tourism market to Chinese visitors after a five-year suspension triggered by border tensions, a move Singapore media says could help revive bilateral travel ties. The decision is seen as a strategic step to rebuild one of India’s most profitable tourism segments and restore a steady flow of Chinese travelers that once played a key role in the country’s inbound tourism growth.
Five years after tensions at the Himalayan border brought leisure travel between India and China to a standstill, India has reopened its doors to Chinese tourists. The decision marks a major policy shift that has injected renewed optimism into the country’s tourism industry, which is eager to reconnect with one of its most valuable international markets.
The visa suspension began in June 2020, following a violent clash in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh that left casualties on both sides and caused relations between the two nations to deteriorate sharply. In response, India halted the issuance of tourist visas for Chinese nationals, effectively cutting off a once-steady stream of visitors who had contributed significantly to the tourism economy.
Now, with the restrictions lifted, industry players see an opportunity to rebuild what was lost. On August 7, Singapore-based Channel News Asia reported that Chinese nationals residing in India have been able to apply for tourist visas since the previous month. Indian visa centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are once again accepting applications, signaling that the travel freeze has officially ended.
Although the exact timeline for processing applications remains uncertain, the reopening has already prompted a flurry of activity among tour operators. Travel agencies across India have wasted no time launching targeted marketing campaigns aimed at attracting Chinese travelers back to the country. Many have shifted their promotional focus to destinations with strong cultural and spiritual appeal, such as Buddhist pilgrimage routes and India’s famed Golden Triangle — the circuit linking Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
The Golden Triangle has long been one of India’s most popular itineraries for foreign visitors. It combines the architectural splendor of the Taj Mahal in Agra, the regal heritage of Jaipur’s palaces, and the bustling historic districts of Delhi. Tour operators are now blending this route with visits to significant Buddhist heritage sites in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, aiming to tap into the growing interest among Chinese travelers in religious and cultural tourism.
Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were a driving force in India’s inbound travel industry. In 2019, they generated a significant share of earnings for numerous tour operators, with some businesses estimating that close to half of their annual revenue came from this market alone. Their impact extended far beyond the big cities, as they spent time exploring heritage towns, wildlife sanctuaries, and UNESCO World Heritage sites, bringing valuable income to local communities across the country.
The Galwan Valley clash disrupted this dynamic almost overnight. With the suspension of tourist visas, travel exchanges between the two countries plummeted, and businesses that had relied on Chinese tourism faced significant losses. Hotels, restaurants, transport operators, and local guides in popular destinations all felt the impact. The absence of such a large source market left a gap that was difficult to fill, even as domestic tourism began to recover in the later stages of the pandemic.
Recent developments suggest that both governments are ready to take steps toward normalizing relations. China resumed issuing visas to Indian nationals in 2022, a move seen as an early signal of thawing ties. In March this year, the two sides agreed to resume direct passenger flights — an important logistical step that makes travel between the countries far more convenient. The lifting of India’s tourist visa ban now adds another layer to this gradual rapprochement.
Tourism analysts note that restoring Chinese arrivals to pre-2020 levels will take time. While the reopening of visa services is a necessary first step, challenges remain. Air connectivity, though improving, still lags behind pre-pandemic capacity, and the broader geopolitical climate could influence travel demand. Moreover, rebuilding confidence among Chinese tourists will require consistent communication and targeted promotional strategies that highlight safety, hospitality, and unique travel experiences in India.
India’s tourism authorities are gearing up to take a stronger role in reviving the Chinese travel market. Work is already underway to design cultural and religious travel routes that align closely with Chinese visitor interests. Among the most anticipated offerings are Buddhist heritage trails, which carry deep historical and spiritual connections between India and China. Destinations such as Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar are expected to become centerpieces of upcoming promotional efforts, complemented by globally recognized landmarks like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Amber Fort in Jaipur.
Industry experts see the present moment as an ideal opportunity for India to reconnect with the Chinese travel market. Tourism worldwide is experiencing a powerful rebound, and demand for long-haul journeys is climbing steadily across Asia. With China’s outbound travel steadily recovering from the constraints of the pandemic, India has a valuable chance to position itself as a top choice for these travelers. By showcasing a wide variety of experiences — from rich cultural and historical landmarks to natural landscapes and wellness retreats — India can stand alongside other Asian destinations already drawing strong interest from Chinese tourists.
For local economies, the return of Chinese visitors could provide a much-needed boost. Beyond traditional sightseeing, Chinese tourists are known for their interest in shopping, culinary experiences, and multi-day cultural tours. Their spending habits often benefit not only large tourism hubs but also smaller towns and rural destinations that feature on specialized itineraries. A revival of this market could stimulate job creation, infrastructure development, and cross-cultural exchange.
India has reopened its tourism market to Chinese visitors after a five-year suspension caused by border tensions, aiming to revive bilateral travel ties and regain a key source of tourism revenue.
The path ahead may still hold uncertainties, but restoring tourist visa access signals a significant shift in India–China tourism ties. After years of minimal interaction and tense diplomatic exchanges, the decision reflects a readiness on both sides to seek shared opportunities. For India’s tourism sector, it opens the door to regaining a high-value visitor base while broadening the diversity of international travelers entering the country.
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Over 99 lakh foreign tourists arrived in India in 2024: Centre

Over 99 lakh foreign tourists visited India, while over 3 crore Indians travelled abroad in 2024, government informed Rajya Sabha.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that the number of foreign tourist arrivals stood at 99,51,722.
In 2023, the number stood at 95,20,928 while 64,37,467 foreign tourists arrived in the country in 2022.
The highest number of foreign tourists arrived from the United States (18,04,586). This was followed by Bangladesh (17,50,165), and in third place was the United Kingdom (10,22,587).
The government also informed that more than 77 lakh Indian nationals visited the UAE in 2024.
34,23,711 Indian nationals visited Saudi Arabia while 21,43,909 Indian nationals visited the US.
The data was provided by the Bureau of Immigration, as noted in the official statement by the Ministry of Tourism.
Earlier on July 25, MoS External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had answered in the Lok Sabha about India’s potential for international tourism and steps in place or planned to further capitalise on it for economic growth and global positioning.
MoS Singh had highlighted that the Government of India acknowledges the potential of international tourism as a contributor to economic growth, employment generation, and enhancing India’s global profile.
He mentioned that these include supporting participation of Central and State Governments, tourism boards, and industry stakeholders in major overseas tourism trade fairs and exhibitions; organisation of Tourism Roadshows; engagements with local tour operators and other industry stakeholders; organisation of B2B meetings and familiarization (FAM) trips; and India tourism publicity campaigns, including through the social media.
MoS Singh also underlined that international air connectivity has improved through bilateral arrangements for direct flights that support foreign tourist arrivals. (ANI)
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Air India to stop Delhi-Washington flights from September 1. Know all details | Indiablooms

Tata Group-owned Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of the airline’s overall route network.
“The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India’s fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month,” Air India said in a statement.
Air India said the extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026.
“That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline’s long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity,” the private airlines said.
Customers to be offered alternative travel arrangements
Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1, 2025 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences.
Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, D.C. via four U.S. gateways – New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco – with the airline’s interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination.
Air India said it will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
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There are five national parks in Karnataka. Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Bannerghatta are some of the renowned national parks here forming part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. These are the parks which are home to elephants, tigers, and leopards.
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