Indian travel to US falls for first time in 23 years

For the first time in more than two decades, the number of Indians travelling to the United States has declined, marking a sharp reversal in a long-standing trend of steady growth.

Sharp Drop in June and July Arrivals

According to provisional data from the US Department of Commerce’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), Indian arrivals fell by 8% in June 2025, slipping from 2.3 lakh visitors in June 2024 to just 2.1 lakh this year. The downturn isn’t limited to June—early estimates indicate that July arrivals are also down by 5.5%, signalling a sustained slowdown.

The decline is part of a broader pattern: international travel to the US also shrank by over 6% in June. However, India’s reversal is particularly notable because it ends a 23-year streak of uninterrupted growth in Indian arrivals outside of the pandemic years.

Students Drive the Slowdown

India remains the fourth-largest source of visitors to the US, after Canada, Mexico, and the UK. But unlike these markets, which are dominated by leisure travel, the Indian segment is driven largely by students, professionals, and family visits. Officials and analysts note that the biggest dip this year has come from the student visa category, a group that has historically powered India’s outbound numbers to the US.

Diaspora Strength vs. Travel Dip

The fall is striking given India’s vast diaspora in America, estimated at around five million people. Family visits have traditionally been a strong pillar of travel demand, supplementing the steady flow of students and business professionals.

Other Destinations See a Surge

Meanwhile, the overall picture of Indian outbound travel tells a very different story. In April 2025, Indian travel abroad surged, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Singapore topping the charts as preferred destinations. This suggests that while Indians are still travelling in record numbers, the US may be losing ground due to rising costs, visa delays, or shifting student preferences.

What the Numbers Signal Ahead

Whether this dip marks the start of a deeper slowdown or a temporary correction will become clearer in the coming months. For now, though, the data marks a rare break in what has been one of the most consistent growth stories in global travel.