India is expanding its e-visa network by adding 11 new entry points, a strategic move aimed at bolstering inbound tourism and distributing international arrivals beyond its primary gateways. The Ministry of Home Affairs has designated Bhopal and Tirupati airports, along with nine land crossings, for e-visa entry. The new land ports include Attari in Punjab; Gede, Ghojadanga, and Jaigaon in West Bengal; Darranga in Assam; Agartala in Tripura; Moreh in Manipur; and Haridaspur in Odisha. This expansion brings India’s total e-visa network to 88 international entry points, comprising 37 airports, 38 seaports, and 13 land ports.
This development follows a period of modest growth in inbound tourism. According to monthly snapshots from the Ministry of Tourism, India recorded 4.344 million foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during January-June 2026. This represents a 3.6% increase compared to approximately 4.19 million FTAs during the same period in 2025.
Monthly arrivals were strongest at the beginning of the year, with 1.007 million FTAs in January, followed by approximately 972,000 in February, 730,000 in March, 534,000 in April, 517,000 in May, and 584,000 in June. While May saw a 5.7% increase year-over-year and June a 3.3% rise, these figures indicate a gradual recovery after sharp slowdowns of -14.3% in March and -5.3% in April, largely attributed to disruptions in transfer flows through Middle East air hubs due to the Gulf War. However, monthly arrivals still remain below the levels observed at the start of the year.
The inbound market in India remains highly concentrated. In June, Delhi accounted for 30.9% of FTAs, followed by Mumbai at 17.4%, Bengaluru at 11.7%, Chennai at 11.5%, and Hyderabad at 7.5%. A similar pattern was observed in May, with Delhi handling 34.7% of arrivals, Mumbai 17%, Chennai 10.3%, Bengaluru 10.2%, and Hyderabad 5.3%. The expansion of the e-visa gateway network is expected to help regional destinations, particularly in eastern and northeastern India, attract more direct international traffic.
E-visas currently constitute about 78% of all visas issued, with the government reporting that approximately 95% of applications are processed within 72 hours. Introduced in 2014, the electronic visa system has significantly expanded its reach, growing from 43 eligible countries to 172 nationalities.
In 2025, India recorded 9.15 million foreign tourist arrivals, a decrease of 8.07% year-over-year. When including foreign tourists and non-resident Indians, international tourist arrivals totaled 20.22 million. India has ambitious targets, aiming to attract around 100 million travelers, encompassing foreign nationalities and non-resident Indians, by 2047.
