Foreign tourist inflow into Karnataka continues to stagnate, with numbers still far below pre-pandemic levels. Up to October this year, the state recorded 3.5 lakh foreign visitors, significantly short of the nearly six lakh arrivals in 2019. With only two months left in the year, officials remain unsure whether the gap can be bridged.
Industry insiders attribute the stagnation to safety concerns and insufficient marketing efforts. In October, Karnataka saw only 19,472 foreign tourists, a sharp decline from 50,366 in the same month last year. September also saw a drop, with 22,234 arrivals compared to 27,609 in 2024.
Although Karnataka typically attracts most foreign visitors between October and December, the state has not crossed the five-lakh mark since the Covid-19 lockdowns. Karnataka welcomed 4.85 lakh foreign tourists in 2024 and 4.09 lakh in 2023, well below the pre-pandemic figures.
Tourism Department Director Akram Pasha noted that multiple countries had issued advisories deeming India unsafe, affecting inbound tourism. He said the state is working to counter the negative publicity. Two rape cases involving tourists in Hampi and Koppal earlier this year further damaged Karnataka’s image, according to industry stakeholders. Even during Dasara, only around 20 foreign tourists visited, many expressing concerns about safety.
Tour operator Karthik Marathe of Nesara Tours said visitors from the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden showed interest this year, but safety remained a recurring concern.
Data for 2025 shows only three months exceeding 50,000 arrivals — January, February and March. February saw the highest figure at 64,899, while June had the lowest at 17,152.
Experts also blame weak marketing strategies at both state and national levels. Travel industry veteran Rohit Hangal said reduced tourism marketing budgets have made Karnataka less competitive globally. Despite holding both heritage and wildlife strengths, he said the state lacks a long-term promotional campaign and sufficient hospitality infrastructure, especially near the newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Hoysala temples.
Economic slowdowns in the US and Europe have further contributed to lower tourist interest, insiders said.
Despite the overall decline, Kempegowda International Airport continues to retain a stable share of foreign tourist arrivals, recording 6.9 lakh FTAs this year — 8.4% of the national share.
Tourism conclave today
The Department of Tourism will host a tourism conclave in Bengaluru on December 5, aimed at showcasing Karnataka’s cultural and tourism initiatives to foreign diplomats.