Foreign tourist arrivals in India take a dip post-COVID

India Dec 06, 2025

For the first time since the pandemic, fewer foreign tourists are visiting India.
Numbers dropped to 69.8 lakh by October 2025—down from over 76 lakh in 2024, and still far from the pre-COVID high of 86 lakh in 2019.
Recent events like the Pahalgam terror attack and military operations have made some travelers rethink their plans.

Kerala feels it most, but there's hope ahead

Kerala's tourism sector is struggling more than most, reaching only about 62% of its pre-pandemic visitors in 2024.
Industry voices point to regional tensions and global conflicts—like Israel-Palestine—as reasons tourists are holding back.
Still, with the rupee getting weaker, industry insiders expect India could soon look like a better deal for international travelers as peak season approaches.