Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall, with more than 5.48 lakh visitors arriving at the UNESCO World Heritage Site between April 2025 and May 28, 2026, reflecting a sharp rise in both domestic and foreign tourism.
According to official data released by the park authorities, Kaziranga received a total of 5,48,319 tourists during the period, including 5,15,554 Indian visitors and 32,765 foreign tourists.
The figures mark a significant increase over previous years and underscore Kaziranga’s growing stature as one of India’s leading wildlife tourism destinations.
The park authorities said the financial year 2025–26 emerged as Kaziranga’s best year on record, with total tourist arrivals rising to 4.68 lakh compared to 4.06 lakh in 2024–25. A decade ago, the figure stood at just 1.55 lakh, indicating nearly a fourfold increase in visitor numbers over the last 10 years.
Foreign tourist arrivals also registered a major jump, increasing from 17,693 in 2024–25 to 30,474 in 2025–26, accounting for around 4.5 per cent of total visitors.
The surge in tourism comes amid heightened global attention on Kaziranga following visits by several high-profile dignitaries, including Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, along with over 60 Heads of Mission, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
The Assam government attributed the tourism boom to improved conservation measures, new tourism initiatives, and better infrastructure. Innovative attractions such as bird safaris in Panbari, cycling trails in Kohora, trekking routes, boat safaris, and community-led tourism programmes have helped diversify visitor experiences beyond traditional jeep safaris.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a social media post quoted in the statement, said Kaziranga’s success demonstrates how conservation can drive economic growth.
He highlighted Assam’s efforts in rhino protection, including years with zero rhino poaching, as central to the park’s transformation into a globally recognised tourism destination.
Rare sightings such as the Golden Tiger, increasing populations of the one-horned rhinoceros, and the return of migratory species indicate a healthier ecosystem within the park.
Authorities said upcoming projects such as the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor are expected to further strengthen wildlife conservation and tourism connectivity in the region.