Spending by Foreign Tourists Soars, India’s Latest Economic Survey States – India Report
Photo Credit: In 2023, more than 9.2 million foreign tourists visited India, up 43.5% from 2022. Pexels / Rohit Sharma
Skift Take
Despite the gains, international travel continues to remain a pain point for India's tourism sector. The Economic Survey, which precedes presentation of the Indian Budget, has emphasized on the recovery of this segment for India. It could indicate a higher allocation to the tourism sector in the Budget set to be presented on Tuesday.
India’s foreign exchange earnings through tourism in 2023 was INR 2.3 trillion ($27.5 billion), according to the government's latest Economic Survey for 2023-24 – a 66% gain over 2022.
In 2023, more than 9.2 million foreign tourists visited India, up 44% from 2022.
Those are strong gains, however we've previously reported that much of India's recovery post-pandemic is being driven by the domestic tourism market. According to a report by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), international travel spending in India in 2023 was some 14% less than pre-Covid levels.
Hospitality Industry in India: The Economic Survey said that in 2023, the hospitality industry in India added 14,000 rooms, the most it has ever added. The total inventory of “chain-affiliated rooms” in India stood at 183,000.
The survey added that the industry is also working to personalize guest experiences and improve operational efficiencies. “Hotels are also adop
