State sees minimal dip in foreign tourist visits in 2023
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 10 2025: Foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to India saw a remarkable increase in 2023 compared to 2022, with the total number rising from 85,87,562 in 2022 to 1,92,45,817 in 2023, a whopping 124 per cent, with the northeast region witnessing a sharp rise in arrivals too.

Despite facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, Manipur saw a marginal dip from 3,908 in 2022 to 3,668 in 2023, a decline of 6.14 per cent.

This decline stands in contrast to the overall growth seen across most of the region and may be attributed to the ongoing instability and security concerns in the state.

Among the north-eastern states, Tripura recorded the most dramatic increase in foreign tourist arrivals.

The state welcomed 66,708 foreign visitors in 2023, a massive jump from just 8,493 in 2022 .

Sikkim also witnessed a substantial rise, with 93,908 foreign tourists in 2023 compared to 68,645 in 2022 .

Assam saw a more than two-fold increase, with arrivals rising from 9,001 in 2022 to 23,818 in 2023, while Meghalaya also recorded a similar trend, growing from 7,774 to 19,973 .

Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh also recorded growth in foreign tourist visits, though at a more moderate scale.

Nagaland's FTVs rose from 2,923 in 2022 to 4,725 in 2023, while Mizoram's numbers increased from 2,611 to 3,754 .

Arunachal Pradesh saw a sharp rise, with visitors jumping from 1,055 to 4,496.The data was presented by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Monday.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state has had a devastating impact on the state's tourism sector, leading to a decline in visitor numbers and a significant loss of revenue.

Once a promising destination for cultural and eco-tourism, the state now faces a slowdown amid the unrest which has deterred both domestic and international travellers, crippling businesses dependent on tourism.

The decline in tourist footfall coupled with the impact of the current crisis has severely affected the local economy, particularly small-scale entrepreneurs, transport operators, and hospitality services, many of whom also rely on tourism for their livelihood.

With reduced income and job opportunities, the socio-economic conditions of the people have worsened, exacerbating financial instability and deepening the hardships faced by communities already struggling with displacement and conflict.

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