Rajasthan foreign tourist visits up 336% in six years: Minister Shekhawat
Synopsis
Rajasthan's foreign tourist count leapt from 4.46 lakh to 19.45 lakh in just six years — a 336% jump confirmed in Parliament. Domestic visits crossed 25 crore in 2025. The numbers signal a full post-pandemic rebound and position Rajasthan as one of India's fastest-growing inbound tourism markets, even as the state admits it does not track location-specific revenue.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan recorded a 336% rise in foreign tourist visits between 2020 and 2025 , according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha .
Foreign tourist visits grew from 4.46 lakh in 2020 to 19.45 lakh in 2025 , peaking at 20.72 lakh in 2024 .
Domestic tourist visits rose from 1.51 crore in 2020 to 25.25 crore in 2025 .
Foreign arrivals had plunged to 0.35 lakh in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions before rebounding sharply.
The Rajasthan Government does not maintain location-specific tourism revenue data, the Centre confirmed.
Central schemes — Swadesh Darshan , SASCI , and PRASHAD — are supporting tourism infrastructure development in the state.
Rajasthan recorded a 336 per cent surge in foreign tourist visits over six years, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on 7 August 2025. According to data compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, foreign tourist visits (FTVs) to the state climbed from 4.46 lakh in 2020 to 19.45 lakh in 2025.
Key Figures at a Glance
Domestic tourist visits to Rajasthan surged even more sharply, rising from 1.51 crore in 2020 to 25.25 crore in 2025 — a trajectory that underscores the state's emergence as one of India's top travel destinations in the post-pandemic era. Foreign arrivals, which had collapsed to just 0.35 lakh in 2021 amid COVID-19 restrictions, staged a strong recovery in subsequent years.
Foreign visits crossed 3.97 lakh in 2022, climbed to 17 lakh in 2023, and peaked at 20.72 lakh in 2024 before settling at 19.45 lakh in 2025. Domestic arrivals followed a parallel upward arc, crossing 10.83 crore in 2022, 17.91 crore in 2023, and 23.01 crore in 2024.
On Tourism Revenue
On the question of tourism revenue, the Rajasthan Government has informed the Centre that location-specific revenue data is not maintained. However, Shekhawat noted that increased tourist footfall generally translates into higher hotel occupancy and broader tourism-related economic activity across the state.
What the Government Said
Minister Shekhawat stated that the identification, development, and promotion of tourism destinations is a continuous process, primarily driven by state governments and Jammu & Kashmir administrations. He confirmed that the Rajasthan Government is implementing comprehensive measures to strengthen tourism through infrastructure development and targeted marketing campaigns.
The Union Government is supporting these state-level efforts through financial assistance under several central schemes, including Swadesh Darshan, the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD).
Context and Broader Significance
This comes amid a broader national recovery in inbound tourism following the disruption caused by the pandemic. Rajasthan — home to heritage circuits spanning Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Jaisalmer — has historically been among India's top draws for international visitors. Notably, the 2024 peak of 20.72 lakh foreign visits suggests the state has not only recovered pre-pandemic levels but surpassed them. The slight dip in 2025 is being monitored, though officials have not attributed it to any specific cause. With central schemes continuing to fund heritage and pilgrimage infrastructure, sustained growth in arrivals remains the stated objective.
Point of View
But it is partly inflated by the exceptionally low 2020 base — a pandemic year when global travel had virtually halted. The more meaningful signal is the 2024 peak of 20.72 lakh, which confirms Rajasthan has genuinely surpassed pre-pandemic foreign arrival levels. The state's admission that it does not track location-specific revenue is a governance gap that undercuts any serious economic impact assessment. Without that data, it is impossible to know whether tourism growth is concentrating in a few heritage cities or spreading to newer circuits — a distinction that matters enormously for infrastructure planning and local employment.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
By how much have foreign tourist visits to Rajasthan increased?
Foreign tourist visits to Rajasthan rose by 336 per cent over six years, climbing from 4.46 lakh in 2020 to 19.45 lakh in 2025, according to data presented by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Rajya Sabha on 7 August 2025.
What happened to Rajasthan tourism during COVID-19?
Foreign tourist visits to Rajasthan fell sharply to just 0.35 lakh in 2021 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, down from 4.46 lakh in 2020. The state staged a strong recovery from 2022 onwards, with foreign arrivals crossing 17 lakh in 2023 and peaking at 20.72 lakh in 2024.
How many domestic tourists visited Rajasthan in 2025?
Domestic tourist visits to Rajasthan reached 25.25 crore in 2025, up from 1.51 crore in 2020, reflecting sustained post-pandemic growth in domestic travel.
Which central government schemes support tourism in Rajasthan?
The Union Government supports Rajasthan's tourism sector through Swadesh Darshan, the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), and the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), which fund infrastructure development and heritage site upgrades.
Does Rajasthan track tourism revenue by location?
No. The Rajasthan Government has informed the Centre that location-specific tourism revenue data is not maintained. Officials note that higher tourist footfall generally correlates with increased hotel occupancy and broader economic activity, but precise revenue figures by destination are unavailable.
