India's Tourism Industry Shows Signs Of Recovery Post-Pandemic With Nearly 6.2 Million Foreign Tourist Arrivals In 2022

India's tourism industry is showing signs of recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Citing the information from Bureau of Immigration, Minister of Tourism G Kishan Reddy told the Parliament on Thursday (6 April) that India received 6.19 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during 2022.

Though, the number of FTAs during 2022 was less than the 10.93 million recorded during pre-pandemic year 2019, but it was an improvement over 1.52 million FTAs registered during 2021.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Reddy informed that the foreign exchange earnings through tourism in India stood at Rs 65,070 crore in 2021.

In 2022, foreign exchange earnings through tourism in India more than double to Rs 1,34543 crore, according to the provisional figures cited by the minister in his reply.

He said that the Ministry of Tourism under its schemes of Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD and Assistance to Central Agencies, provides central financial assistance to state governments/Union Territories/central agencies for development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities in the country to provide an enriching tourism experience to visitors in a planned and phased manner.

Further, the ministry has set up a 24x7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Info-Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code 1363 in 12 languages including ten international languages (German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic), Hindi and English for domestic and foreign tourists to provide support service in term of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress while travelling in the country, the minister said.

The minister further said that G20 meetings are being held at 55 destinations throughout the country.

The infrastructure at these cities are being augmented and upgraded for the G20 meetings.

Tourism offerings are being highlighted in run up to these meetings, he said.

"Excursion of Delegates is also organised to nearby tourist attractions. Effort is being made to make G20 delegates visiting these destinations are going back to their countries as tourism ambassadors," he said.

Further, important tourism sites and facilities are being upgraded to international standards, the minister added.