Hampi/Hospet, Nov 17: Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has seen a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists this year.
Only 3,818 foreign tourists visited Hampi till October 2024-25, compared to 19,838 in the previous year. Compared to the previous year, there has been a sharp decline in the number of foreign tourists. However, the number of domestic tourists increased during the same period, with 4,46,441 people visiting during the same period.
Security concerns and infrastructure issues are said to be the reason for the decline in the number of tourists.
Last summer, a case of sexual assault and murder of a foreign tourist was reported near Sanapur.
Following this incident, questions began to arise about whether Hampi is safe. Several tourists, guides and tour operators have been questioned, and several group trips from Europe and East Asia have reportedly been cancelled following the incident.
Foreign tourists generally cite poor hygiene, limited availability of information centres and unreliable transport as major hurdles.
Meanwhile, tourism associations have called for security measures, dedicated tourism policing, improved last-mile connectivity, sanitation and international promotional campaigns.
Meanwhile, there are demands for a long-standing proposal for an international airport near Hampi.
Virupakshi V Hampi, president of the Village Welfare Association under the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority, said the decline in foreign tourist numbers was disappointing.
Local tourism operators have expressed concern that the decline is already affecting livelihoods.
The district collector said that proposals for safety-awareness programmes and infrastructure upgrades are under review and consultations are underway with locals.