Reported by: Sandeep Sarma
Guwahati: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve,Assam has recorded its highest ever tourist footfall in the 2025–26 final year, underlining its growing appeal among domestic and international travellers.
According to official data, a total of 4,68,147 tourists visited the park during the year, a sharp rise from 4,06,564 in 2024–25 and 3,27,493 in 2023–24.
Of the total visitors this year, 4,37,673 were Indian tourists, while 30,474 were foreign nationals, taking the share of international visitors to around 4.5 per cent.
The surge marks a significant jump from a decade ago, when the park recorded just over 1.55 lakh visitors in 2016–17. Over the years, both domestic and foreign tourist numbers have steadily increased, with foreign footfall nearly doubling in recent years.
The upward trend has continued into the current season as well. In April 2026 alone, the park received 49,322 visitors, including 2,116 foreign tourists.
Kaziranga’s rising profile has also been reflected in a series of high-profile visits over the past few years. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited the park, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic trip on March 9, 2024, becoming the first Prime Minister to visit the park since it was declared a national park in 1974.
Union Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar also visited the site along with Heads of Mission from multiple countries during the Advantage Assam 2.0 initiative in February 2025. Other prominent visitors included Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and French Ambassador Thierry Mathou.
Officials attribute the steady growth in tourism to improved infrastructure, global visibility, and new visitor experiences introduced across the park’s divisions -Eastern Assam Wildlife Division (Bokakhat), Biswanath Wildlife Division (Biswanath Chariali), and Nagaon Wildlife Division.
KNPTR Director Dr Sonali Ghosh said,“We have seen a remarkable boost in tourism over the past year. Initiatives like the bird safari in Panbari, cycling in Kohora, jeep and boat safaris in Biswanath, and trekking at Hemtap Hill have created new interest among visitors.”
She added,“We have also focused on promoting local culture and community participation. The eco-shops run by our staff welfare society are helping visitors take back curated souvenirs, which adds to their overall experience.”
The increase in tourist inflow has also given a boost to the local economy, with hotels, eateries, and small businesses witnessing higher activity and new opportunities emerging around tourism and allied sectors.