In India, inbound tourism is the total number of foreign visitors who come to the country for reasons including business, pleasure, medical care, pilgrimage, or to see friends and relatives. Arrivals of non-resident Indians (NRIs), foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs), and international tourist arrivals (ITAs) are its three main constituents. Foreign visitors to India who stay for at least one night but no more than a year are included in FTAs; diplomats and military personnel are not. Indian nationals living overseas who return briefly for personal or professional reasons are referred to as NRI arrivals. A more complete view of all foreign arrivals is provided by ITAs, a more expansive category that encompasses both FTAs and NRI arrivals.

Inbound tourism is a major contributor to India’s economic growth, foreign exchange earnings, employment generation, and cultural diplomacy. It helps a number of industries, including handicrafts, transportation, hotel, and wellness services. While monitoring NRI arrivals exposes trends in diaspora engagement, FTAs aid in evaluating India’s desirability as a travel destination worldwide. For cross-border comparisons and to fully comprehend the effects of international mobility on the Indian economy, the combined ITA metric is essential. Better policy planning, focused marketing, infrastructure development, and an overall increase in India’s tourist potential are made possible by accurate tracking of these variables.