New Delhi, Feb. 6 -- Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha informed that International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) in India touched 20.57 million in 2024, registering an 8.9 per cent increase over the previous year and marking a strong recovery in inbound tourism, according to data released by the Bureau of Immigration.

The figures show that foreign tourist arrivals have not only recovered steadily over the last five years but have also exceeded pre-Covid levels. ITAs stood at 17.91 million in 2019, declined sharply during the pandemic years, and rose progressively to 18.89 million in 2023 before reaching 20.57 million in 2024.

The government said international tourist arrivals...