In a significant development, official sources have reported a remarkable 106% increase in the number of foreign tourists arriving in India during the January-June period of 2023, as compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
This boost in tourism comes amid ongoing efforts by India to enhance both domestic and international footfall, a move aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector after the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the data shared by these sources, foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) have witnessed a robust surge this year, resulting in a notable increase in foreign exchange earnings for 2023 as compared to the figures from the preceding year.
Officials have indicated that the post-pandemic era has marked a resurgence in foreign tourist arrivals to India. The substantial growth is underscored by concrete statistics: “The number of foreign tourists who arrived in India this year during January-June stood at 43.80 lakh, which is 106 per cent higher than the figure (21.24 lakh) for the corresponding period in 2022,” revealed a source on Tuesday.
Shifting focus to domestic tourism, data from official sources reveals an encouraging trend. In 2021, domestic tourism recorded a footfall of 677 million, a number that climbed impressively to 1,731 million in 2022, showcasing a burgeoning preference for local travel experiences.
As per the data Jammu and Kashmir, has emerged as a prominent beneficiary of this tourism surge. The region witnessed an influx of over 1.8 crore tourists in 2022. Figures for the January-June period of 2023 are pegged at 1.09 crore.
A contributing factor growth in tourism is attributed to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi.
The corridor spread over 500,000 square feet, which connects the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple premises to the banks of the Ganga river, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 13, 2021.
Officials assert that the corridor’s construction has played a pivotal role in fostering increased tourism in the temple town.
Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this surge in a recent episode of his “Mann Ki Baat” address. He observed that the notable uptick in the number of tourists in Varanasi reflects a “cultural reawakening.”
Sources on Tuesday have revealed that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has seen a substantial rise in visitors. A staggering 7.16 crore people visited the temple in 2022. The trend continued into 2023, with 2.29 crore visitors recorded from January to May. This surge in temple visitors has been attributed to the transformative impact of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
Sunil Verma, CEO of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, highlighted that around 10 crore devotees have undertaken pilgrimages to the temple since the corridor’s inauguration.
