Gujarat Emerges as Third Most Visited State by Foreign Tourists in 2024
According to the India Tourism Data Compendium 2025 released by the Union Ministry of Tourism, Gujarat has emerged as the third most visited state in India by foreign tourists in 2024. The data highlights a significant rise in international tourist arrivals across the country, with Gujarat playing a pivotal role in this growth.
National and State-Level Tourism Statistics
International tourist arrivals (ITAs) into India reached 20.57 million in 2024, marking an impressive 8.89% increase over the previous year. At the state level, the top five destinations for foreign tourist visits (FTVs) were:
- Maharashtra: 3.7 million foreign tourists
- West Bengal: 3.1 million foreign tourists
- Gujarat: 2.274 million foreign tourists
- Uttar Pradesh: 2.26 million foreign tourists
- Rajasthan: 2.07 million foreign tourists
Despite a slight year-on-year decline from 2.8 million FTVs in 2023, Gujarat accounted for 10.86% of India's total foreign tourist visits in 2024. Additionally, the state's share of domestic tourism stood at 7.1%, underscoring its appeal to both international and local travelers.
Factors Driving Tourism Growth in Gujarat
Travel industry experts attribute Gujarat's strong performance to several key factors. Virendra Shah, former chairperson of the Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI) Gujarat, emphasized the role of improved flight connectivity. "Flight connectivity to Ahmedabad has tremendously improved, with more international destinations getting connected through direct flights, in addition to a number of connections via Delhi and Mumbai. This is a major factor driving tourism," he stated.
Shah further noted that the state's thriving business environment and investments by multinational corporations have attracted foreign nationals to destinations like Ahmedabad. "Due to the economic development of the states and due to many projects established in Gujarat, business travellers are attracted to meetings and the execution of new projects," he added.
Diverse Tourist Attractions in Gujarat
Gujarat offers a wide range of attractions that cater to diverse interests among foreign tourists. These include:
- The World Heritage City of Ahmedabad, known for its 600-year-old heritage
- Forest trails in Sasan Gir, home to the Asiatic lion
- Desert tourism in the Rann of Kutch
- Heritage tourism at Dholavira, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Popular sightseeing locations like the Statue of Unity and Saputara
Shah highlighted that these attractions are drawing not only foreign tourists but also travelers from other Indian states, further boosting Gujarat's tourism sector.
Challenges and Opportunities for Gujarat Tourism
Despite its success, Gujarat faces certain challenges in maximizing its tourism potential. Manish Sharma, a travel expert from Ahmedabad, pointed out that the state needs better marketing on international forums. "Gujarat has tremendous tourism potential. However, two challenges still persist. The state's tourism needs to be marketed well. We are not just home to Rannotsav and Sasan Gir. For instance, border tourism at Nadabet can be promoted," he explained.
Sharma also suggested promoting heritage properties through a heritage trail circuit and improving facilities at tourist destinations, including transportation and road connectivity. "That apart, facilities need to come up at tourist destinations for better transportation and road connectivity, over and above hotels and accommodation," he emphasized.
Expansion of Hospitality Infrastructure
In recent years, several leading hospitality chains have expanded their presence in Gujarat's hinterlands, setting up properties in locations such as:
- Mandvi, Kutch, Una, Gir, Dholera
- Godhra, Somnath, Dwarka, Palitana, Ektanagar
These chains include Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), Hyatt Hotels, Radisson Group, Lemon Tree Hotels, ITC Group, and Pride Hotels. A travel company owner from Ahmedabad noted that the availability of plush accommodation in these areas has significantly contributed to attracting foreign tourists to Gujarat.
National and Regional Tourism Trends
At the national level, NRI arrivals touched 10.62 million in 2024. Region-wise data revealed that:
- Asia and the Pacific remained the largest source of foreign tourists to India, contributing 43% of total arrivals
- Europe followed at 26.7%
- North America accounted for 23.1%
These trends underscore India's growing appeal as a global tourism destination, with Gujarat playing a crucial role in this narrative.
