Foreign Tourists’ First Choice: Maharashtra

Over Twofold Increase in the Number of Foreign Tourists Visiting the State

New Delhi, Feb 2026 Maharashtra has emerged as the most preferred state for tourism in India, with the number of foreign tourists visiting the state recording more than a twofold increase over the last three years. While 1.512 million foreign tourists visited Maharashtra in 2022, the figure rose sharply to 3.705 million in 2024, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

According to data released by the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the inflow of foreign tourists to Maharashtra has shown consistent growth. From 1.512 million in 2022, the number jumped to 3.388 million in 2023, and further increased to 3.705 million in 2024. Notably, in 2024, 17.69 per cent of all foreign tourists visiting India chose Maharashtra, giving the state the highest share of foreign tourist arrivals in the country.

To establish India as a major global tourism destination, the Ministry of Tourism has been implementing several initiatives. These include participation in international tourism exhibitions, organisation of familiarisation tours for foreign tour operators and social media influencers, roadshows, and Indian food festivals abroad. The ministry clarified that these efforts are undertaken with the support of state governments and Indian embassies.

For the development of tourist destinations, the central government provides financial assistance under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive). These schemes primarily focus on infrastructure development and the conservation of spiritual and heritage sites. Regular discussions and coordination meetings are held between the central and state governments regarding tourism development in Maharashtra, which has further boosted the sector.