India becomes second largest overseas market for US tourism as visitation surges 40 per centBengalur
Bengaluru (PTI): Travel from India to the US is witnessing sustained and robust growth, with India emerging as the second-largest overseas source market for the US, Brand USA president and CEO Fred Dixon said.
Dixon was in Bengaluru as part of his visit to India for the 12th edition of Brand USA Travel Week.
He noted that the growth underscores the increasing sophistication and spending power of Indian travellers, as well as their growing appetite to explore destinations beyond traditional US gateways.
“We’re thrilled that travel to the United States from India continues to grow at a really incredible pace. We’re up 40 per cent in terms of visitation volume since before the pandemic, since 2019,” Dixon told PTI.
He added that 2025 marked the second consecutive year of strong recovery, with more than two million Indian visitors travelling to the US.
“We just finished the second year, 2025, with more than two million Indian visitors to the United States, which has now made India the second-largest market into the United States from overseas,” Dixon said, calling it “an incredible feat” and a testament to the strength of the Indian travel market.
While New York, California and Florida continue to be the most popular destinations for Indian travellers, Dixon said repeat visitors are increasingly venturing deeper into the country.
“India is now in the top 10 source markets for most US destinations, if not the top five,” he said, noting that this reflects how widely Indian travellers are now exploring the US.
According to him, the presence of a large US delegation at Brand USA Travel Week India reflects the growing importance of the market. The delegation includes about 75 representatives from US destinations and travel businesses engaging with Indian travel trade partners and media from across the country.
Looking ahead, Dixon said 2026 would be a landmark year for US tourism, driven by a convergence of major global events.
“It’s an incredible year for us. In 2026, you’ve got three major events happening in the United States that are really once in a lifetime,” he said.
Highlighting the FIFA World Cup, Dixon said, “The FIFA World Cup is coming to the US this summer. It’ll be in the months of June and July, and it’s the largest World Cup ever, with 48 teams in 11 host cities across the US, from Seattle to Miami.”
He added that the tournament would generate excitement not just for football fans but also for local communities across the country.
The World Cup will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States, with celebrations peaking around July 4, while 2026 will also mark a major anniversary of Route 66, one of America’s most iconic highways.
“It’s probably the greatest symbol of the great American road trip,” Dixon said, adding that Indian travellers are increasingly interested in self-drive holidays across the US.
Dixon said Brand USA, as the national tourism marketing organisation, is playing a key role in promoting these events globally.
Emphasising the economic impact of Indian travellers, Dixon said, “India is not only our second-largest market by volume today, it’s now the second-highest spending market.” He described Indian tourists as long-stay visitors who are discerning in their travel choices, making them especially valuable to the US tourism economy.
On Brand USA Travel Week India, Dixon said the event has recorded strong participation and outcomes.
Looking to the next five years, Dixon said the outlook for the India–US travel corridor remains highly positive.
“If the last two years are any indication, I think the Indian market is going to continue to climb,” he said, adding that Brand USA has been “bullish on India for a long time.”
He also pointed to a decade of major sporting events in the US — including the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, the Rugby World Cup in 2031, and the Winter Olympics in 2034 — as strong long-term demand drivers.
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Noida techie death: Two more builders arrested
Noida (PTI): The Noida police on Thursday arrested two more builders in connection with the death of a software engineer who drowned after his car plunged into a waterlogged trench near a construction site in Sector 150 here, officials said.
"The arrested accused have been identified as Ravi Bansal, a resident of Faridabad, and Sachin Karnwal, a resident of Ghaziabad," a police official told PTI.
The official said both the arrested persons are associated with real estate developer Lotus Greens, although their exact designation in the company could not be confirmed immediately.
According to the police, the arrests were made by the Knowledge Park police station team in a case registered under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 106 (causing death by negligence) and 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others).
"It is noteworthy that on the intervening night of January 16 and 17, a car driver, Yuvraj Mehta (27), died after drowning in a waterlogged plot due to alleged negligence on the part of the builder and its associates at a construction site of Lotus Greens," the police said in a statement on Thursday.
Mehta, who worked as a software engineer in Gurugram, was returning home in Sector 150 when his car fell into a water-filled pit near the construction site. He allegedly remained trapped -- first inside the vehicle and then outside it -- for nearly two hours while pleading for help before drowning, police said.
The FIR was lodged against Lotus Greens and MZ Wiztown Planners at the Knowledge Park Police Station following a complaint by the victim's father.
On Tuesday, the police arrested Abhay Kumar, director of MZ Wiztown Planners, in connection with the case, and he was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday, according to officials.
The police on Wednesday lodged a separate FIR in connection with the case and booked five named officials of the two real estate firms, charging them with violating environmental and pollution norms, besides negligence at the construction site.
Additionally, the case is being probed by a Special Investigation Team formed by the Uttar Pradesh government amid public outrage and allegations of negligence by developers and the Noida Authority.
