Himachal Pradesh has experienced a steep decline in foreign tourist visits (FTVs), recording only 62,806 out of 1.92 crore international visitors to India in 2023—just 0.33% of the total. Comparatively, in 2022, Himachal had 29,333 FTVs from India’s 85.87 lakh. Other smaller states like Tripura, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Goa have surpassed Himachal in FTV numbers. While many states have regained pre-COVID tourism figures, Himachal has only recovered 20% of its previous levels.
The state’s foreign tourist rankings have also fallen sharply. In 2013, Himachal ranked 11th in India for FTVs but dropped to 19th in 2023. In contrast, Goa saw 4,52,692 FTVs in 2023, Uttarakhand had 1,43,027, and Maharashtra led with 33,87,739. The numbers were much higher in previous years for Himachal, with 4,70,992 FTVs in 2017 and 3,82,876 in 2019. However, in 2022, the state received only 82,765 foreign tourists.
Tourism stakeholders believe a lack of government support is a major factor. Himachal has received minimal funding under key tourism schemes like Swadesh Darshan, Eco-Tourism, and PRASHAD. Unlike other states that secured substantial aid, Himachal received only one project worth INR 64.54 crore under Swadesh Darshan, while other states secured projects worth up to INR 2,000 crore. The state was also left out of major tourism campaigns like Dekho Apna Desh, Chalo India, and Bharat Parv.
Experts highlight that Himachal’s poor rail connectivity and expensive air travel are worsening the situation. Tourism industry representatives urge the central government to provide fair funding and include Himachal in national tourism initiatives to prevent further decline.
