GUWAHATI: Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve has witnessed its highest-ever tourist footfall, with visitor numbers crossing 4.68 lakh during 2025–26, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, May 29.
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Sharing the details in a series of posts on X, Sarma said the UNESCO World Heritage Site has emerged as one of India’s biggest tourism success stories, attributing the growth to sustained conservation measures and expanding tourism infrastructure.
The chief minister stated that tourist arrivals increased by over 15 per cent compared to the previous fiscal year, when the park had recorded 4.06 lakh visitors. He noted that the number stood at only 1.55 lakh nearly a decade ago.
“2025–26 has been the best year on record for Kaziranga. The growth has been consistent and driven by long-term efforts in conservation, connectivity and tourism development,” Sarma remarked.
Foreign tourist arrivals also saw a sharp rise during the last fiscal year, increasing from 17,693 to 30,474 visitors, he added.
The chief minister further stated that Kaziranga has already received over 5.48 lakh visitors since April 2025, reflecting the growing interest in Assam’s wildlife tourism sector.
Sarma said high-profile visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the King of Bhutan and more than 60 Heads of Mission have significantly boosted Kaziranga’s global appeal.
He also credited the state’s anti-poaching measures for strengthening wildlife conservation in the park, noting that Assam has achieved multiple years with “zero rhino poaching” in Kaziranga.
Highlighting ecological diversity in the region, the chief minister pointed to sightings of the rare Golden Tiger, increase in the one-horned rhinoceros population, expansion of Gangetic dolphin tourism and the return of migratory bird species such as the Smew.
The Assam government has also expanded tourism activities in and around Kaziranga, introducing boat safaris in Panpur and Laokhowa-Burachapori, along with cycling trails, birdwatching circuits, trekking routes and community-based tourism initiatives aimed at generating employment for local residents.
Referring to the proposed Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project, Sarma said the initiative aims to balance development with ecological protection by ensuring safer wildlife movement while improving transport connectivity for commuters and tourists.
He added that Assam’s broader tourism strategy remains focused on environmental conservation, livelihood generation and the creation of globally attractive tourism destinations.