New Delhi, Sep 27 – The Taj Mahal, a Mughal-era mausoleum located in Agra, emerged as the most-visited centrally protected ticketed monument for both domestic and foreign tourists during the financial year 2024-25, as reported in a government-released compendium on Saturday.

The Ministry of Tourism published this compendium during an event celebrating World Tourism Day on September 27. The report indicated that Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India reached 9.95 million in 2024, marking a 4.52 percent increase from 2023. The Taj Mahal attracted 6.26 million domestic visitors and 0.645 million foreign tourists in FY 2024-25.

Constructed between 1631 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular sites for domestic tourists included the Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha, with 3.57 million visitors, and Qutub Minar in Delhi, which welcomed 3.20 million visitors. For foreign tourists, Agra Fort and Qutub Minar each attracted 0.22 million visitors.

The report also highlighted that Non-Resident Indian (NRI) arrivals in India reached 10.62 million in 2024, reflecting a 13.22 percent increase from 2023 and a significant 52.15 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This rebound underscores the growing confidence of the Indian diaspora in traveling to India post-pandemic.

International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) in India totaled 20.57 million, representing an 8.89 percent increase over the previous year and a 14.82 percent rise compared to 2019, as detailed in the 260-page India Tourism Data Compendium 2025.

The event featured Suman Bery, vice chairperson of the NITI Aayog, as the chief guest, with Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi presiding. Bery emphasized that tourism serves as a powerful tool for economic transformation, environmental stewardship, and social inclusion, advocating for sustainable tourism practices that preserve biodiversity while generating livelihoods.

The tourism sector faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, with FTAs plummeting by 74.93 percent to 2.74 million in 2020. A gradual recovery was noted in subsequent years, with FTAs rebounding to 6.44 million in 2022 (a 323.68 percent increase) and reaching 9.95 million in 2024.

Age-wise analysis of FTAs in 2024 revealed broad appeal across demographics, with the highest shares from the 35-44 years (20.67 percent) and 45-54 (20.24 percent) age groups. Notably, there was a growing interest among senior travelers, particularly in wellness, heritage, and spiritual tourism offerings. The 0-14 age group saw a slight decline compared to previous years, yet it remained significant, indicating strong family tourism.

Gender-wise, FTAs in 2024 showed a distribution of 57.7 percent males and 42.3 percent females among foreign visitors. The compendium also noted that outbound travel from India continued to rise, with 30.89 million departures in 2024, reflecting a 10.79 percent growth over the previous year.

The United Arab Emirates was the top destination for Indian nationals, followed by Saudi Arabia, the US, Thailand, Singapore, the UK, Qatar, Canada, Kuwait, and Oman, which collectively accounted for approximately 71.16 percent of all Indian Nationals’ Departures (INDs) during the year. Air travel remained the dominant mode of international travel for Indian residents, with 98 percent departing by air in 2024.

In the 2023–24 period, the travel and tourism sector in India generated approximately 84.63 million jobs, encompassing both direct and indirect employment, while contributing 5.22 percent to India’s GDP, underscoring its vital role in the national economy.