For Bangladeshi nationals, India is not just a travel destination but also a hub for medical treatment and shopping.
India’s tourism industry, already under significant strain, has faced additional challenges due to the recent turmoil in Bangladesh. According to government data, the decline in tourists from Bangladesh following a political crisis and coup in the country has negatively impacted India’s foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs). This is particularly concerning as Bangladeshi tourists constitute the largest segment of foreign visitors to India, accounting for 20 per cent of the total FTAs.
For Bangladeshi nationals, India is not just a travel destination but also a hub for medical treatment and shopping. Official data available until August this year reveals that 20.8 per cent of all tourists who visited India between January and August were from Bangladesh, a slight drop from 22.3 per cent in the same period last year. The situation worsened in August, with Bangladeshi tourists contributing only 15.6 per cent of total arrivals.
Monthly declines worsen
On a monthly basis, the downturn has become more pronounced. In July, there was a 20.3 per cent year-on-year decline in Bangladeshi tourist arrivals, with only 1.57 lakh visitors from Bangladesh that month. The numbers deteriorated further in August, with a steep annual decline of 38.1 per cent, bringing the figure down to just 99,000 visitors. From January to August, the total number of Bangladeshi tourists dropped by 9.1 per cent, standing at 12.86 lakh.
Overall tourism sector under pressure
India’s tourism sector has struggled to recover fully after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, India received over 1.09 crore foreign tourists. However, the numbers plummeted to 27.45 lakh in 2020 and further to 15.27 lakh in 2021 due to strict lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Although there was some recovery in 2022 with 61.91 lakh tourists visiting India, the numbers still fell short of pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, the total reached 92.36 lakh. For 2024, as of August, the FTA figure stands at 61.9 lakh, still far below 2019 levels.
Meanwhile, neighboring and competing destinations such as Qatar, Dubai, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka have seen foreign tourist arrivals surpass pre-pandemic levels. For instance, Qatar recorded a 47% increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the challenges India faces in regaining its position as a top travel destination.
