Taj Mahal Leads India's Tourism Revival: Attracts 6.9 Million Visitors as Foreign Tourist Arrivals Reach 9.95 Million in 2024

The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra has secured its position as the most-visited centrally protected ticketed monument for both domestic and international tourists during the 2024-25 financial year, according to official data released by the government in a comprehensive tourism compendium.

The magnificent Mughal-era mausoleum attracted an impressive 6.26 million domestic visitors and 645,000 foreign tourists, maintaining its status as India's premier heritage attraction. This information was unveiled during a special event held to commemorate World Tourism Day on September 27.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India reached 9.95 million in 2024, representing a 4.52 percent increase compared to 2023 figures. This positive trend indicates the tourism sector's continued recovery from pandemic-related challenges.

The Taj Mahal, constructed between 1631 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, remains under the Archaeological Survey of India's protection and holds the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

Other monuments showing significant visitor numbers include Odisha's Sun Temple in Konark, which welcomed 3.57 million domestic tourists, and Delhi's Qutub Minar with 3.20 million domestic visitors. For international travelers, Agra Fort and Qutub Minar followed the Taj Mahal in popularity, each receiving approximately 220,000 foreign tourists.

Non-Resident Indian (NRI) arrivals showed remarkable growth, reaching 10.62 million in 2024—a 13.22 percent rise compared to 2023 and an impressive 52.15 percent increase over pre-pandemic 2019 levels. This substantial increase demonstrates growing confidence among the Indian diaspora to travel to their homeland.

The combined International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) to India totaled 20.57 million, showing an 8.89 percent increase over the previous year and a 14.82 percent rise compared to 2019, according to the 260-page India Tourism Data Compendium 2025.

At the release event, NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Bery emphasized tourism's multifaceted importance, stating, "Tourism is not just about leisure; it is a powerful instrument for economic transformation, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion." He advocated for sustainability to be central to India's tourism strategy as the country works toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

The compendium also highlighted tourism's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. After FTAs plummeted by 74.93 percent to just 2.74 million in 2020, the sector experienced a dramatic rebound to 6.44 million visitors in 2022—a 323.68 percent increase.

Demographic analysis revealed that tourists aged 35-44 years (20.67 percent) and 45-54 years (20.24 percent) constituted the largest segments of international visitors. The significant presence of travelers aged 55-64 and above 65 suggests growing interest among senior tourists, likely attracted by India's wellness, heritage, and spiritual offerings.

Gender distribution among foreign visitors showed a relatively balanced ratio, with males accounting for 57.7 percent and females 42.3 percent of all international arrivals in 2024.

Outbound travel from India also continued its upward trajectory, with 30.89 million departures recorded in 2024—a 10.79 percent increase over the previous year. The United Arab Emirates remained the top destination for Indian travelers, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United States, Thailand, and Singapore. The top ten countries collectively accounted for approximately 71.16 percent of all Indian international departures.

Air travel dominated as the preferred mode of international transport, with 98 percent of Indian nationals departing by air, while land routes accounted for 1.46 percent and waterways 0.54 percent of outbound journeys.

The tourism and travel sector's economic impact remained substantial, generating approximately 84.63 million jobs (both direct and indirect) in 2023-24 while contributing 5.22 percent to India's GDP, underscoring its vital role in the national economy.