Foreign tourist arrivals in HP rising, but still below pre-pandemic levels
Once a favourite among international tourists, Himachal, a picturesque hill state, saw a significant decline in tourist numbers during the Covid-19 outbreak
Although the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Himachal Pradesh has steadily increased in the post-COVID years—following a drastic decline during the pandemic—it remains significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
According to estimates from the tourism department, 82,765 foreign tourists visited Himachal Pradesh in 2024, an increase from 62,806 in 2023 and 29,333 in 2022. In 2021, due to the global pandemic, the number was just 4,832.
Once a favourite among international tourists, Himachal, a picturesque hill state, saw a significant decline in tourist numbers during the Covid-19 outbreak. To put things in perspective, 3.83 lakh foreign tourists had visited the state in 2019 before the pandemic hit. The state had recorded 3.56 lakh foreign tourist arrivals in 2018 and the figure stood at 4.70 lakh in 2017.
In 2024, the highest number of foreign tourist arrivals were reported at 27034 in Shimla followed by 26195 in Kangra and 13295 in Kullu. Overall, a total increase of 13.24% was recorded in tourist arrivals (both domestic and foreigners) as compared to 2023 in Himachal.
Tourism department officials cite two main reasons for this decline. First, ongoing global conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war, have led to a drop in tourists from Israel and Russia. Secondly, Southeast Asian countries have become increasingly attractive to international travelers due to their more tourist-friendly policies.
Kangra Tourism Deputy Director Vinay Dhiman said that while tourism is showing encouraging trends, particularly in the number of foreign tourist arrivals, it still remains below pre-COVID levels. “In the post-COVID years, global conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict have impacted tourism. We have observed a decline in Israeli tourists, who were once frequent visitors. Additionally, the number of Russian tourists has also decreased compared to previous years,” he said.
“There has been a significant global shift in tourist preferences, with new destinations emerging as favorites for international travelers. We have seen a growing number of foreign tourists choosing Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. These countries have made substantial investments in tourism infrastructure and have become more tourist-friendly,” he added.
After the Covid-19 woes, heavy rains in August last year triggered floods in the state, causing massive damage to road infrastructure and resulted in a dip in tourist influx.
The industry stakeholders feel that while India has a diversity of destinations to offer, there is a lack of aggressive international brand marketing of tourism. Shimla Hotels and Tourism Stakeholders Association President, Mohinder Kumar Seth said that the decline in foreign tourist arrivals is a nationwide trend, not just limited to Himachal Pradesh. “The impact of ongoing global conflicts is evident, with a significant drop in the number of Israeli tourists. To counter the lesser number of foreign tourist arrivals, the government must invest in marketing and promotional strategies, similar to what other countries are doing, to attract visitors,” he said.
He further said that the 2023 disaster had a major impact on tourism in Himachal. “The key priority should be improving connectivity. Himachal should not remain dependent on Chandigarh and Punjab for access; better infrastructure is essential to revive and sustain tourism,” he added.