♦ As per data from the Bureau of Immigration, India recorded 9.52 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2023, reflecting a 47.90% increase compared to 2022.

♦ The number of FTAs for Leisure, Holiday, and Recreation in 2023 was 4.40 million, registering an 86.96% growth compared to 2022. Similarly, FTAs for Business and Professional purposes stood at 0.98 million in 2023, marking a 49.66% increase from the previous year.

♦ Foreign tourist arrivals have now recovered to 87.1% of pre-pandemic levels, closely aligning with the global recovery rate of 88.8%, and significantly surpassing the Asia-Pacific region’s recovery rate of 65.4%.

♦ The Ministry of Tourism has implemented various initiatives to support this growth, including the development of tourism infrastructure through schemes like ‘Swadesh Darshan,’ ‘PRASHAD,’ and financial assistance to states for tourism development.

♦ The Ministry also promotes India’s tourism offerings through campaigns such as ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Chalo India,’ along with events like the International Tourism Mart and Bharat Parv.

♦ India’s e-Visa scheme, which is available to citizens of 167 countries across nine categories, including e-Tourist, e-Business, and e-Medical visas, has further streamlined the entry process for foreign visitors, contributing to the rise in FTAs.