Inbound tourists trail pandemic levels, but forex earnings up: Report

Inbound tourism in the country is trailing the pandemic levels as foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in January-June this year stood at 4.78 million, which is about 90 per cent of the first half of 2019, a report said on Wednesday. However, forex earnings are up indicating that per person arrival spending is more, according to a report by Crisil Market Intelligence and Analytics. The report said that the post-pandemic recovery in India's inbound tourism is lagging the global trend as in the first half of calendar 2024, FTAs in the country stood at 4.78 million, about 90 per cent of that in the first half of calendar 2019. In comparison, globally, FTAs in the first seven months of 2024 were at 96 per cent of the pre-Covid levels of 2019, implying India is behind the curve, it added. The report stated that reduced demand from Bangladesh on account of the current political scenario there and suspension of direct flights from China impacting tourist footfalls. Both these countries were a