NEW DELHI: An analysis of data of those visiting Delhi’s centrally protected ticketed monuments in 2023-24 and 2024-25 shows that while flagship sites like Red Fort and Qutub Minar continued to attract domestic visitors, several historic monuments struggled to retain footfall, even as a few others emerged strong gainers.Overall, the city’s centrally protected ticketed monuments recorded a steady rise in total visitors in 2024-25, with combined footfall crossing 84 lakh, up 3% from the previous financial year. Red Fort remained among the most-visited monument, drawing nearly 28.8 lakh domestic visitors in 2024-25, a 3.2% increase, over according to India Tourism Data Compendium 2025.
Red Fort Among Most Visited Monuments, But Sees Dip In Foreigner Footfall; Hauz Khas, Jantar Mantar Gainers
However, the number of foreign tourists at the iconic Mughal-era site declined by 5.8%, pointing to a possible shift in international visitor preferences towards other heritage attractions in the city. A retired Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official said a reason behind this dip could be frequent events hosted at Red Fort, which often required parts of the complex —and at times the entire monument — to remain closed for several days, disrupting the plans of foreign tourists with tight itineraries.However, no response regarding this trend was immediately available from ASI.Qutub Minar continued to be the biggest magnet for foreigners, welcoming around 2.2 lakh, a figure that remained broadly stable year on year. Domestic footfall at the Unesco World Heritage site crossed 32 lakh in 2024-25, up 2.6%. Among other major historical sites in the city, Humayun’s Tomb emerged as the strongest all-round performer. The number of domestic visitors rose sharply by 13.4%, crossing 10 lakh, while foreign tourists surged by 35% to 1.58 lakh, reflecting growing global interest in well-conserved, experience-rich heritage spaces.Hauz Khas Complex, a medieval heritage precinct in south Delhi, also stood out in terms of growing footfall, albeit from a smaller base. The number of domestic and foreign visitors jumped nearly 32% and 27%, respectively, highlighting its popularity among younger travellers, weekend tourists and urban explorers drawn to open, accessible heritage spaces. Among mid-sized attractions, Jantar Mantar recorded steady gains, with the number of domestic visitors up 5.7% and foreign tourists rising nearly 20% in 2024-25, pointing to renewed curiosity in Delhi’s scientific and astronomical heritage.In contrast, several monuments recorded a decline in footfall. Purana Qila had one of the sharpest drops, with domestic visits falling from 2.6 lakh in 2023 to 1.9 lakh in 2024. Foreign footfall was also down — by 7.3%. Tughlaqabad Fort also saw a significant slide, with the number of domestic tourists declining 12.6% and foreigners dropping 23%. Safdarjung Tomb and Kotla Firoz Shah also continued to lose visitors in both segments, suggesting that these sites may be losing out to better-marketed or more visitor-friendly monuments. According to the report, Sultan Garhi Tomb in Vasant Kunj saw the number of domestic visitors jump by over 400%, while Khan-i-Khana recorded a 67% rise in foreign tourists, even as the number of domestic visitors dipped slightly. “Even modest improvements in awareness or access can significantly alter footfall at lesser-known sites,” an official said. P P Khanna, a member of Indian Association of Tour Operators, attributed the uneven trends to multiple factors, including a growing perception of Delhi being a transit city for foreigners. “Many international visitors land in Delhi but spend limited time here before moving on to destinations like Agra and Jaipur, which have adopted a far more aggressive tourism marketing strategies,” he said. The capital’s air pollution and traffic congestion, Khanna added, also discourage such tourists from extending their stay. Meanwhile, Delhi govt is planning to sharpen its focus on digital storytelling through short Instagram reels, visitor-friendly content and data-backed destination branding to attract more tourists and compete with Jaipur, Agra and other global heritage cities. Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation has outlined a plan to this end by setting up a framework that aligns the city’s tourism narrative with evolving travel trends. On Wednesday, the corporation invited bids to engage a private agency for the exercise. “The communication agency, which is selected, will integrate market research, strategy and digital asset management under one umbrella. The outreach will aim at converting curiosity into visits, while also covering print, television and outdoor campaigns,” an official said.
