The Karnataka government is under fire from opposition parties after a staggering decline in the number of international tourists visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi. While the state's tourism department attributes the drop to a broader nationwide trend and multiple factors, the data reveals a particularly sharp collapse at the iconic historical location.
A Drastic Drop in Key Destinations
Until October 2025, a mere 3,818 foreign tourists visited Hampi. This figure represents a catastrophic fall from over 20,000 during the same period in 2024. Officials and industry observers largely link this dramatic decrease to the sexual assault and murder of a foreign national at the site in March 2025, an incident that severely damaged its international reputation for safety.
The downturn is not confined to Hampi alone. Other previously strong-performing destinations in Karnataka have also recorded significant dips in foreign footfall this year:
- Mysuru: 77,242 tourists so far in 2025, down from nearly 1.4 lakh in 2024 and 2.2 lakh in 2023.
- Udupi: 22,972 tourists in 2025, compared to 89,849 in 2024 and 44,760 in 2023.
- Chamarajanagar: Also reported a decline after strong previous years.
Statewide, Karnataka has welcomed approximately 3 lakh international visitors in 2025 so far. This is a notable drop from 4,85,204 in 2024 and 4,09,333 in 2023. Despite the approaching December holiday season, the tourism department remains pessimistic about a substantial short-term recovery.
Safety, Planning, and Infrastructure Challenges
A senior tourism department official explained the broader context. "While we saw year-on-year improvement after the Covid-19 pandemic, the numbers remain unsatisfactory," the official stated. "This nationwide trend stems from untoward incidents, prompting safety advisories from several countries."
The official elaborated that safety issues extend beyond serious crimes to include the everyday experience of visitors, such as constant staring or harassment by locals. To address the crisis, the department is advocating for a multi-agency strategy. This includes police ensuring better law and order, and public works and district administrations improving road conditions and tourist facilities.
A key operational suggestion is the early release of a state event calendar. "Foreigners plan their trips around major festivals. We should release a calendar of major state events by June-July annually. Dasara dates shift every year, so advance notice helps in planning; this should apply to Hampi Utsav as well," the official explained. The department also highlighted a gap in training programmes for local travel agents and guides, who are crucial for on-ground promotion and visitor experience.
New Initiatives and Political Spotlight
In response to the challenges, the tourism department launched the Karnataka Centre for Cultural Diplomacy (KCCD) on Friday. This new centre aims to boost tourist inflows by leveraging diplomatic missions abroad through cultural partnerships, tourism promotion, and knowledge exchange. Tourism Minister HK Patil stated, "We are committed to positioning Karnataka among the top five states for international tourist visits by 2029."
The situation in Hampi has also drawn attention at the national level. Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Lahar Singh Siroya, recently raised the issue in Parliament, emphasizing heritage preservation and tourism promotion. In a letter to the Centre, he cited media reports on unchecked vegetation growth on monuments, stalled restoration work, and the need for expert vulnerability assessments.
"Our irreplaceable cultural treasures demand a sustained national commitment," Siroya said. He pointed out that excessive and often unruly tourism directly causes heritage degradation and suggested regulating or limiting tourist numbers at critical sites during peak periods, following international best practices.
The combined data, official statements, and political interventions paint a clear picture: Karnataka's tourism sector faces a significant hurdle in regaining the confidence of international travellers. The success of the new KCCD and the implementation of proposed safety and planning measures will be critical in determining the state's ability to reverse this alarming trend.
