Tourist arrivals rise 18% in Q1 even as foreign inflows fall

Jaipur: Rajasthan saw an 18% rise in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the current calender year, even as foreign tourist inflows declined by 13%, highlighting the growing reliance on domestic travel.Total tourist footfall, both domestic and foreign, rose to 6.19 crore in the January–March quarter, up from 5.25 crore in the same period last year. The surge was driven largely by domestic travellers, while foreign arrivals slipped, reflecting the impact of geopolitical tensions in West Asia.“The unrest in the Middle East has affected global travel patterns, which in turn has impacted inbound tourism. We expect normalcy to return well before the tourist season begins in September,” said Surendra Singh Shahpura, president of the Federation of Hospitality and Tourism of Rajasthan (FHTR).While foreign tourists constitute a smaller share of overall arrivals, industry stakeholders stressed their disproportionate economic importance.“Heritage hotels depend heavily on foreign visitors. Though many have diversified into weddings, MICE events and domestic segments, international tourists remain central to their business model,” Shahpura said.The state tourism department has stepped up international outreach, showcasing Rajasthan’s destinations and experiences at global exhibitions.Ranvijay Singh, general secretary of the Federation of Rajasthan Hotels, said participation in international tourism fairs such as World Travel Market (London), ITB-Berlin and JATA (Japan) is expected to boost arrivals in the coming season. However, he flagged high airfares and limited flight connectivity as key constraints.He also called for a reduction in VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF), on the lines of Delhi and Maharashtra, to improve air connectivity to the state.Industry players said the sharp rise in domestic tourism, along with strong growth in destination weddings, has helped sustain the sector despite the dip in foreign arrivals.“Several new hotels have come up in the past five years, and the industry now requires consistent double-digit growth in arrivals to remain viable,” Shahpura added.