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)

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.