A survey by global digital travel company Booking.com highlights that health and safety concerns are the primary obstacles for foreign tourists planning a trip to India. The survey, conducted in August among 2,000 adults from 19 countries, revealed that 32% of respondents listed “getting sick” as their biggest worry, while 27% cited “safety and security” as major concerns. Together, these two factors were identified by nearly 60% of tourists as the most significant planning challenges.
For those who have visited India but don’t plan to return, health issues, particularly the fear of falling ill during the trip, were cited by 16% of respondents, followed by safety concerns at 15%. Few mentioned problems related to the value for money, local interactions, or the variety of experiences. Cultural differences (13%), language barriers (12%), accommodation (8%), transportation (6%), and food (2%) were also noted as planning concerns.
The report, titled How India Travels 2024 – The Inbound Edit, was produced by Booking.com in collaboration with Accenture. It also suggested measures to enhance the experience for international travelers, such as improving the safety of solo female tourists, expanding the 24×7 Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline, and developing dedicated tourism police units in key cities.
Despite these concerns, many travelers still express interest in visiting India. The survey found that 44% of respondents had visited India and intended to return, while 40% planned to visit for the first time. Only 16% had visited and did not plan to return. Among those who had already been to India, 56% said the country met their expectations, and 39% reported that India exceeded their expectations. Only 5% felt their experience fell short.
While foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) to India have been steadily increasing since the pandemic, they remain below pre-COVID levels. The first half of 2024 saw 47.78 lakh foreign tourists, a 9.1% increase from 2023 but still 9.8% lower than 2019 levels. In 2023, FTAs were 92.36 lakh, 15.5% lower than the 1.09 crore recorded in 2019. Booking.com estimates that FTAs will not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2025.
The report also attributed the slow recovery of foreign tourist arrivals to reduced footfalls from countries like Bangladesh and China, as well as competition from emerging destinations in Central and Southeast Asia, which offer easier visa regimes and better value for money. Recommendations for India included expanding international air connectivity, simplifying visa processes, and increasing marketing efforts to promote the country as a global tourist destination.
