As India looks to strengthen its position on the global tourism map, inbound travel is entering a crucial phase.
Voyager’s World speaks to Ravi Gosain, President, IATO, in an exclusive interview about the evolving Indian travel industry, the road ahead for inbound tourism, emerging source markets and the opportunities presented by Andhra Pradesh
As President of IATO, how would you describe the current state of the Indian travel industry? What are the key opportunities and challenges for tour operators?
The Indian travel industry is at an important turning point. Domestic tourism is growing, traveller aspirations are evolving and global interest in India’s culture, spirituality, wellness, cuisine, wildlife, weddings and experiential travel is increasing. Technology is also helping tour operators connect more efficiently with customers and international partners. However, inbound tourism has yet to reach its full potential. Rising costs, competition from global online platforms, geopolitical uncertainty, air-capacity constraints and limited visibility in overseas markets remain key challenges. The opportunity lies in positioning India as a destination offering diverse, high-quality experiences beyond traditional sightseeing. This requires sustained promotion, easier visas, better connectivity, competitive taxation and stronger Government-industry cooperation.
How would you assess India’s recovery in inbound tourism?
India’s inbound recovery has been encouraging in parts, but it remains uneven. India recorded around 9.95 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, which declined to approximately 9.15 million in 2025, still below the 2019 figure of nearly 10.93 million. The US remains our largest high-value source market, while the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe continue to be important. Emerging opportunities exist in Southeast Asia, Japan, Russia and the Middle East. Traveller behaviour has also changed. Visitors increasingly seek flexibility, personalised experiences, wellness, nature, cuisine, culture and engagement with local communities. Safety, sustainability and seamless digital services are also becoming more important.
Why was Andhra Pradesh selected as the host destination for the IATO Convention?
Andhra Pradesh offers the kind of diverse experiences international travellers are increasingly seeking, including beaches, Buddhist heritage, spirituality, tribal and rural experiences, cuisine, nature and culture. Visakhapatnam provides the connectivity, accommodation, convention infrastructure and destination appeal required for an event of this scale. The state also serves as a gateway to destinations such as Araku Valley and Borra Caves. The proactive support of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh Tourism, including destination familiarisation, logistics and showcasing tourism products, was another important consideration.
Can the IATO Convention create long-term business opportunities for Andhra Pradesh?
Absolutely. The Convention should be viewed as more than a three-day event. Delegates returning to their markets with firsthand destination knowledge can create new itineraries, partnerships and business opportunities. To convert this into sustained arrivals, Andhra Pradesh should develop market-ready itineraries, organise regular familiarisation trips, participate in international tourism markets, strengthen digital promotion and conduct targeted B2B roadshows. Improving connectivity, accommodation beyond Visakhapatnam, multilingual guides and last-mile infrastructure will also be important.
Are we on track to achieve India’s ambitious tourism targets?
India has the tourism assets, aviation network and hospitality capabilities to become one of the world’s leading destinations, but the current pace of inbound growth is not sufficient. We need sustained, adequately funded, market-specific global promotion; professional representation in priority markets; stronger partnerships with international tour operators; and a modern “Incredible India 2.0” campaign. Easier visas, improved connectivity and a seamless visitor experience are equally important. We must focus not only on arrivals but also on longer stays, higher spending and wider geographical dispersal.
Which emerging markets offer the greatest potential for Indian inbound tourism?
Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, offers significant potential due to proximity, connectivity, and interest in India’s spiritual, cultural, wedding, and leisure products. Japan and South Korea can be developed through Buddhist tourism, heritage and business travel. The Middle East offers opportunities in luxury, wellness, medical, wedding and family travel, while Russia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand also hold promise. India should adopt customised strategies for each market rather than relying on a single global campaign.
What are the biggest barriers to significantly higher international tourist arrivals?
The first is inadequate and inconsistent international promotion. The second is access-related friction, including visa challenges, limited direct connectivity, high airfares and weak last-mile infrastructure. The third is the uneven visitor experience, with gaps in cleanliness, signage, interpretation, trained guides, public amenities and service standards. Taxation and the cost of doing business are also concerns, as India needs to remain competitive with other destinations.
What policy measures does IATO want the Government to consider?
Inbound tourism should be recognised as a strategic export industry because it earns foreign exchange, generates employment, supports MSMEs and strengthens India’s soft power. IATO would like to see continuous global promotion, restoration of overseas marketing support, professional tourism representation in priority markets, simpler e-visas and visa-on-arrival for suitable markets. Rationalising GST, improving connectivity, establishing an empowered National Tourism Board with private-sector participation, and providing infrastructure status and easier finance for tourism projects are also important priorities.
How can smaller and regional tour operators compete with large OTAs and global travel companies?
Smaller operators should focus on their strengths—specialised knowledge, personal service, local relationships and unique experiences. Technology and AI can help them improve productivity, marketing, customer communication and itinerary creation without replacing their human expertise. Collaboration through associations, destination networks and B2B partnerships can also strengthen their competitiveness. Technology should empower smaller operators while preserving the value of their destination knowledge and relationships.
What role can IATO play in skilling and mentoring the next generation?
IATO’s role must extend beyond representation and policy advocacy to continuous knowledge-building. Training programmes and AI masterclasses can help members adapt to technology, digital marketing, sustainability, crisis management, cybersecurity and changing consumer behaviour. A structured mentorship programme connecting experienced professionals with young entrepreneurs and second-generation operators would also be valuable. Partnerships with tourism institutes can provide internships and practical industry exposure.
Finally, what is your vision for IATO over the next few years?
My vision is to make IATO stronger, more inclusive, internationally visible and relevant to every member, from large inbound companies to small regional operators. Policy advocacy will remain a priority, alongside stronger state chapters, training, technology adoption and meaningful B2B opportunities. I also want IATO to play a larger role in research, market intelligence, crisis preparedness, sustainability and destination development.
Above all, IATO should continue to act as a bridge between Government and industry, established businesses and young entrepreneurs, and Indian destinations and global markets. Our goal is not simply to increase arrivals, but to build a tourism industry that generates foreign exchange, supports employment and MSMEs, benefits local communities and strengthens India’s position globally.