Saturday, March 15, 2025 In Himachal Pradesh , the foreign tourist visits (FTV) figures were significantly higher in the years leading up to the pandemic. In 2017 , the state welcomed a total of 4,70,992 international visitors. This number decreased slightly to 3,56,568 in 2018 , but still remained substantial.
In 2019 , the state recorded 3,82,876 foreign arrivals, maintaining a steady influx of international tourists. These figures illustrated a healthy tourism sector that relied heavily on foreign visitors. Post-Pandemic Decline However, the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on global tourism, and Himachal Pradesh was no exception.
As per the latest available data from 2023 , the number of international tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh drastically plummeted to just 62,806 . This represented a mere 0.33% of the total foreign tourist arrivals to India, which stood at 1,92,45,817 that year.
Compared to the pre-pandemic years, this decline is concerning for the state’s tourism sector. While there was a slight increase in FTVs from 2022 , when only 29,333 foreign tourists visited the state, the numbers are still a far cry from the levels seen before the pandemic. This decline signals a worrying trend for the state’s tourism industry, which has historically relied on international tourists for revenue and business growth.
Comparative Performance of Other States Interestingly, Himachal Pradesh is no longer the leader in attracting foreign tourists within India. Sma.
