The enchanting city of Udaipur, famed for its serene lakes and majestic palaces, has celebrated a historic achievement. In 2025, the 'Venice of the East' witnessed its highest tourist influx in eight years, setting a new benchmark for its thriving tourism sector.
A Landmark Year for The Lake City
Official data released by the Rajasthan tourism department paints a picture of robust recovery and growth. The figures confirm that Udaipur attracted a staggering 21.6 lakh (2.16 million) visitors throughout the year. This remarkable number represents the highest annual footfall the heritage city has seen since 2018, signalling a powerful post-pandemic revival.
Deputy director of the tourism department, Shikha Saxena, highlighted that the sector showed consistent strength across 2025, even with minor variations. The data reveals an impressive near-doubling of tourist numbers compared to 2018, providing a substantial boost to the local economy and businesses reliant on hospitality and travel.
Domestic Travel Drives The Surge
A deep dive into the statistics shows where the growth originated. Of the total 21.6 lakh tourists, the overwhelming majority—nearly 20 lakh—were domestic travellers exploring their own country. Foreign tourists accounted for approximately 1.6 lakh of the total arrivals.
This underscores a pivotal shift in Udaipur's tourism dynamics. The surge in Indian tourists, which saw a 7.6% increase in 2025, has been the cornerstone of the city's recovery. While international tourist numbers also began a slow climb back with a 3.7% rise, their proportion has changed significantly. In 2018, foreigners constituted about 18% of all visitors, but in 2025, that share fell to roughly 7-8%.
Monthly Trends and Seasonal Shifts
The month-by-month analysis offers fascinating insights into changing travel patterns:
- December emerged as the peak month, drawing over 2.8 lakh Indian visitors and around 20,000 foreign travellers to enjoy the city's festive charm and pleasant weather.
- In stark contrast, April recorded the lowest footfall, with only 95,000 domestic and just over 9,000 international tourists, largely due to the intense summer heat.
One of the most positive trends is the dispersal of visitors throughout the year. Unlike earlier years when tourism was concentrated in specific peak seasons, 2025 saw a steady stream of guests every month. This is reflected in the average monthly visitor count, which skyrocketed from about 94,700 in 2018 to nearly 1.8 lakh in 2025.
A New Chapter for Udaipur's Tourism
This record-breaking year marks the culmination of a steady recovery journey that began in 2022 after the pandemic-induced near-halt in 2020 and 2021. The momentum built through 2023 and 2024 finally led to this historic high in 2025.
The growth narrative is now firmly led by domestic exploration. While the slower rebound in international numbers is noted, the strong dependence on Indian tourists has opened a new, resilient chapter for Udaipur. It ensures that the splendour of this captivating city, with its rich heritage and stunning landscapes, is being discovered and cherished by more Indian families than ever before, securing a stable and promising future for its tourism economy.
