Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India

India: Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes was 1.03 million trips in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
1.03 million trips
Change on year
up 6.6%
World rank
29th
of 175 countries
All-time high
1.72 million trips
in 2018
All-time low
78,000 trips
in 2001
Years of data
29
1995–2024

Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India, 1995–2024

0500.0k1.0M1.5M1995200920241995: 144.0k trips1996: 169.0k trips1997: 154.0k trips1998: 108.0k trips1999: 110.0k trips2000: 110.0k trips2001: 78.0k trips2002: 112.0k trips2003: 188.0k trips2004: 100.0k trips2005: 133.0k trips2006: 88.0k trips2007: 275.0k trips2008: 1.6M trips2009: 901.0k trips2010: 861.0k trips2011: 1.4M trips2012: 1.5M trips2013: 1.7M trips2014: 1.1M trips2016: 1.4M trips2017: 1.4M trips2018: 1.7M trips2019: 1.6M trips2020: 286.0k trips2021: 160.0k trips2022: 645.0k trips2023: 965.0k trips2024: 1.0M trips

Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in trips.

Analysis

The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India is 1.03 million trips, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 6.6% on the previous year and down 10.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India peaked at 1.72 million trips in 2018 and was at its lowest, 78,000 trips, in 2001.

India ranks 29th of 175 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India, year by year

Annual values for Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India, 1995 to 2024.
Year trips Change
1995 144,000 trips —
1996 169,000 trips +17.4%
1997 154,000 trips -8.9%
1998 108,000 trips -29.9%
1999 110,000 trips +1.9%
2000 110,000 trips +0.0%
2001 78,000 trips -29.1%
2002 112,000 trips +43.6%
2003 188,000 trips +67.9%
2004 100,000 trips -46.8%
2005 133,000 trips +33.0%
2006 88,000 trips -33.8%
2007 275,000 trips +212.5%
2008 1.56 million trips +466.5%
2009 901,000 trips -42.2%
2010 861,000 trips -4.4%
2011 1.42 million trips +64.8%
2012 1.48 million trips +4.3%
2013 1.69 million trips +14.4%
2014 1.14 million trips -32.4%
2016 1.37 million trips +19.9%
2017 1.36 million trips -0.5%
2018 1.72 million trips +26.0%
2019 1.61 million trips -6.6%
2020 286,000 trips -82.2%
2021 160,000 trips -44.1%
2022 645,000 trips +303.1%
2023 965,000 trips +49.6%
2024 1.03 million trips +6.6%

India compared with similar countries

  • India's 1.03 million trips is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 92,700 trips, 11.1× the median. (37 countries reporting)
  • India's 1.03 million trips is above the median for South Asia, which is 58,400 trips, 17.6× the median. (5 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2008 +466.5% 275,000 trips 1.56 million trips
2022 +303.1% 160,000 trips 645,000 trips

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 137,000 trips 108,000 trips 169,000 trips 5
2000s 354,300 trips 78,000 trips 1.56 million trips 10
2010s 1.41 million trips 861,000 trips 1.72 million trips 9
2020s 617,000 trips 160,000 trips 1.03 million trips 5

Countries ranked near India

  1. 26 United States 1.13 million trips compare
  2. 27 Norway 1.10 million trips compare
  3. 28 Romania 1.07 million trips compare
  4. 30 Brazil 978,400 trips compare
  5. 31 Kazakhstan 938,300 trips compare
  6. 32 Estonia 760,000 trips compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More reference data data for India

All data for India →

Frequently asked questions

What is arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India?
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India was 1.03 million trips in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes recorded in India?
The highest recorded value was 1.72 million trips in 2018.
What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes recorded in India?
The lowest recorded value was 78,000 trips in 2001.
How does India rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes?
India ranks 29th out of 175 countries with data for 2024.
Is arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes rising or falling in India?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this India data come from?
The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes in India. Statizoid, drawing on UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/international-trips-for-business-and-professional-reasons/india/

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About this data

Indicator
Arrivals of tourists from abroad for business purposes
Unit
trips
Source
UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
175 places, 3,919 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed

Number of international trips where the main purpose is business-related and the visitor stays overnight.