Skift Take

India needs to close the gap between its thriving outbound market and untapped inbound potential, along with what the future might hold for the country's place in global tourism.

Skift India Travel Podcast

Skift Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by business leaders, and experts from throughout the industry and Skift’s newsroom, to explore the challenges, opportunities, and trends shaping the Indian travel industry.

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In this episode of the Skift India Travel Podcast, Asia Editor Peden Doma Bhutia is joined by Saniya Zanpure, research analyst at Skift, to explore India’s inbound tourism landscape. Last month, the Indian government announced initiatives aimed at boosting tourism, including offering 100,000 free visas. Despite surging outbound travel, inbound recovery has been slower, making these measures critical. Catch them discuss factors behind this disparity, such as safety concerns, visa issues, and infrastructure challenges, as well as untapped opportunities to enhance India's appeal.    

Key Points

Strong Growth in India's Outbound Tourism: India's outbound tourism has shown robust growth, with international departures up 14% in the first half of this year compared to 2023. This growth is 12% higher than 2019 levels, reflecting a sustained recovery and increased travel enthusiasm among Indians post-pandemic.

Spending Power and Diverse Travel Pr