Assam Sees Surge in Tourist Arrivals Amid Eco-Tourism Push
Tourism Growth in Assam
File image of tourists visiting Kaziranga National Park (Photo- @sarbanandsonwal/X)
Guwahati, July 14: The Assam government is actively promoting eco-tourism initiatives, resulting in a remarkable increase in tourist numbers, with over six crore visitors, including more than 2.4 lakh international tourists, recorded over the past decade.
During the Budget Session, Tourism Minister Ajanta Neog responded to a query from Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed, revealing that from 2016-17 to 2025-26, Assam welcomed a total of 6,04,85,638 tourists, among which 2,41,192 were from abroad.
Neog highlighted that the peak tourist influx occurred in 2022-23, with 98,31,141 visitors, including 18,946 foreign nationals, marking a significant recovery in the post-pandemic landscape.
In stark contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted tourism, with the year 2020-21 witnessing a drastic drop to just 13,52,037 visitors, including a mere 347 foreign tourists.
The minister noted that tourists from nations such as the UK, France, UAE, Australia, the US, Switzerland, Nepal, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Japan, Spain, Belgium, and Israel contributed significantly to the foreign visitor count in Assam.
Furthermore, she mentioned that countries like Australia, Japan, and 27 EU nations have updated their travel advisories for Assam, reflecting improvements in the state's law and order situation.
This announcement aligns with the government's renewed commitment to tourism as a vital economic driver, particularly focusing on eco-tourism and sustainable development of tourist destinations.
Earlier this month, Neog revealed plans for a five-year tourism master plan aimed at enhancing Assam's tourism sector through eco-tourism, rural tourism, and job creation.
The strategy will leverage Assam's natural and cultural resources while generating employment opportunities for local communities and youth.
Neog emphasized that eco-tourism will be central to the state's long-term tourism strategy, focusing on sustainable growth, community involvement, and conservation-oriented tourism development.
The government asserts that tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Assam and is poised to significantly contribute to the state's economic development in the coming years.