In a remarkable development, India has claimed the title of Asia's primary contributor to international travel, with a particular surge in travelers heading to the United States. During the initial five months of 2023, Indian travel to the US has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, showcasing the growing wanderlust among Indian citizens. To meet the demands of this tourism boom, the United States has announced the opening of two new consulates in India, specifically in the cities of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. These efforts signify a turning point in bilateral relations, emphasized by the recent visit of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House. As part of his visit, Modi has engaged with numerous executives seeking to increase investment in India, while the US endeavors to streamline its visa processing procedures.
According to IPK International, a prominent tourism consultancy, India emerged as Asia's top source of international travelers in 2022, surpassing the travel volumes of China, South Korea, and Japan. This notable achievement has not gone unnoticed by the US tourism sector. Geoff Freeman, CEO of the US Travel Association, highlighted the potential of new markets like India to offset declines in other countries and foster long-term growth.
To facilitate travel between the two nations for business, tourism, and professional and technical exchanges, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Modi have directed officials to explore additional mechanisms. Consequently, the United States plans to open consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, as outlined in a joint statement.
The US Department of Commerce National Travel and Tourism Office has reported that travel from India to the United States in the first five months of 2023 has already surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In contrast, other Asian countries, particularly China, have experienced a slower return of travelers to the United States post-pandemic.
In 2022, India ranked third among overseas visitors to the United States, a significant jump from its eighth position in 2019. Notably, these figures exclude cross-border visitors from Canada and Mexico. Industry executives have drawn parallels between India's evolving travel patterns and the trends observed in China several years ago. Keith Barr, CEO of IHG Hotels and Resorts, pointed out the rising middle class and increasing wealth in India, which is contributing to the growth of Indian travelers.
According to a State Department spokesperson, US embassies and consulates in India have issued 44% more non-immigrant visas in 2023 compared to the same period in 2019. The spokesperson emphasized the government's prioritization of processing visa applications in India, considering it a top concern.
The outlook for the remainder of the year appears promising, with ForwardKeys, a travel data firm, reporting that flight bookings from India to the United States in the final quarter of 2023 are 26% higher than pre-pandemic levels. However, the primary challenge faced by travelers is obtaining first-time visitor visas, although wait times have reduced significantly from earlier this year.
In response to increasing demand, Air India has recently launched non-stop services from Mumbai to New York and San Francisco, as well as from Bengaluru to San Francisco. Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, attributes this surge in travel to the growing number of Indians settling in the US for education and employment, leading to heightened desires among their parents, in-laws, and extended families to visit them.