India has emerged as the second-largest source of foreign visitors to the United States in 2024, witnessing a 27% increase compared to the previous year. The country also consistently ranks among the top nations for business and student visa applications.
Between January and May 2024, India became the second-largest international source market for travel to the US, as per statistics from the US National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). This surge has broken all previous arrival records.
In May 2024 alone, 263,150 Indian travelers visited the US, marking a 32% rise from the 199,364 arrivals in May 2023. This significant growth solidified India’s position as the second-largest source of US visitors for the month.
Overall, 882,404 Indian travelers visited the US between January and May 2024, a 37.2% increase from the 643,270 arrivals during the same period in 2023. This makes India the second-largest market after the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest source of foreign visitors overall, including arrivals from Canada and Mexico.
To address the increasing demand, the US Embassy in India is working to reduce visa processing backlogs. Current wait times for tourist visa processing vary by city, ranging from 441 days in Hyderabad to 607 days in Kolkata. To expedite the process, Indian applicants can now apply for US tourist visas at consulates in other countries. Visa authorities are also resolving technical issues affecting procedures like interview scheduling.
Recognizing India’s importance as a key market, Brand USA is actively enhancing travel opportunities for Indian tourists through targeted marketing efforts and partnerships within the Indian travel industry.
