Skift Take
Driven by an increase in spending power, Indians are traveling to the U.S. in huge numbers. Gains are further boosted by major sporting events held in the U.S., as Indian sports fans are willing to travel far for events.
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Between January and May 2024, India has emerged as the second-largest international source market – not including Canada and Mexico – for tourism in the U.S., according to data released by the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).
In May, the U.S. received over 263,000 Indian tourists, a 32% increase from May 2023. During the January-May period, more than 882,000 Indians visited the U.S., a 37% gain. The largest market for the U.S. was the United Kingdom.
Taking into account arrivals from Canada and Mexico, India was the fourth-largest international source market in the first five months of the year, a statement from NTTO said.
Preferred Long-Haul Destination: The U.S. is among Indian travelers’ preferred long-haul destinations. According to online travel company MakeMyTrip’s first trend report released in April, New York was among the most searched long-haul destinations by Indians, along with London and Toronto.
In 2023, 1.7 million Indian tourists visited the U.S., and NTTO is expecting this number to increase to 2 million by 2027.
“The expected addition of new flights later this year will further make travel to the U.S. even more accessible for Indian travelers,” Brand USA said.
The U.S. is witnessing significant interest from spo