Louisiana Makes Its Case For More Indian Tourists

For a U.S. state with just over 4.5 million people, Louisiana punches above its weight when it comes to tourism. In 2023, the state brought in 43 million visitors. 

Now, Louisiana is setting its sights on a new audience — India. “Indian tourists are already among the top five international spenders in our state,” Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser told Skift.

Visiting India for the first-ever Louisiana India Mission to Delhi and Mumbai, Nungesser highlighted the state's varied offerings — from Mardi Gras to the Jazz Fest. 

“If you eat it, drink it, shoot it, or dance to it, we’ve got a festival for it,” he said.

Visitor numbers from India to the U.S. continue to set new records. Last year Indian arrivals reached 1.76 million, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.

This year, between January and August, Indian arrivals have already crossed 1.55 million, making India the second-largest overseas market after UK (excluding Canada and Mexico that share a land borde