GUWAHATI, May 29: Tourist footfall in Assam’s famed Kaziranga National Park rose by over 15 per cent in 2025-26 to nearly five lakh visitors, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday.
In a series of posts on X, he said that the visit of Indian and Bhutanese prime ministers to the UNESCO world heritage site has emboldened the stature of the national park.
“FY 2025-26 was Kaziranga’s best year on record. Tourist footfall rose to 4.68 lakh, up from 4.06 lakh the previous year. A decade ago, the figure stood at just 1.55 lakh. The transformation has been steady, deliberate and sustained,” Sarma said.
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During the last fiscal, foreign tourist arrivals increased from 17,693 to 30,474 in a single year, he said.
“When travellers from across the world choose Assam, it validates our efforts to build globally competitive tourism infrastructure… What happens when conservation is treated not as a constraint on development, but as a catalyst for growth? @kaziranga_ may have the answer,” the CM said.
With a “record-breaking” 5.48 lakh visitors since April 2025 till date, the national park is emerging as one of India’s most compelling tourism success stories, he said.
“The visits of Adarniya @narendramodi Ji, the King of Bhutan and over 60 Heads of Mission have further strengthened Kaziranga’s standing on the global stage. Assam is no longer a destination people discover by chance. It is increasingly becoming a destination they seek out,” the chief minister said.
He asserted that Assam’s conservation model rests on a simple principle – protect wildlife first.
“From battling rhino poaching to achieving years with ZERO RHINO POACHING in Kaziranga, Assam has shown that determined governance can reverse even the toughest challenges,” he said.
Sarma also said that the rare sightings of the Golden Tiger, growing populations of the one-horned rhino, Gangetic Dolphin tourism and the return of migratory species such as the Smew point toward a healthier ecosystem.
“This is the outcome of years of sustained conservation efforts. Kaziranga today offers far more than a safari. Boat Safaris in Panpur and Laokhowa-Burachapori, cycling trails, birding circuits, trekking routes and community-led tourism initiatives are opening new opportunities for local entrepreneurs and youth,” he said.
The CM said that the upcoming Kaziranga Elevated Corridor reflects the government’s vision for the future.
“It will enable safer wildlife movement across critical habitats while improving connectivity for residents and visitors. Development and conservation must move together. This project embodies that principle,” he said. The tourism sector of Assam is being developed with three objectives – protect nature, create livelihoods and build destinations that the world wishes to experience, Sarma added. (PTI)
