Major wildlife destinations across Assam have documented a consistent upward trajectory in tourist arrivals, with Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary all welcoming higher numbers of visitors during the 2025-26 season. Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah spotlighted these encouraging figures during World Tourism Day celebrations, pointing out how ecological preservation and visitor engagement are successfully going hand in hand across the state.
Surge in Kaziranga National Park Visitors
According to the data released by the minister, Kaziranga drew a total of 4.58 lakh visitors in 2025-26, marking a notable increase from the 4.22 lakh tourists who visited during the preceding year. Tourism within Kaziranga is no longer confined strictly to traditional wildlife safaris. The landscape now offers diverse experiences including nature trails, cycling paths, eco-friendly stays, ethnic dining spots, and boat safaris, allowing travellers to experience the wider geographical expanse of the region.
Growth at Manas and Pobitora Sanctuaries
Manas National Park has likewise registered a steady rise in tourist numbers, climbing from 52,962 visitors in the 2021-22 period up to 63,723 visitors in 2025-26. Mallabaruah specifically noted a remarkable increase in international travellers visiting Manas National Park. Meanwhile, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, celebrated for its robust biodiversity and significant population of one-horned rhinoceroses, welcomed 35,371 visitors in 2025-26, steadily establishing itself as a premier nature tourism hub.
Fostering Conservation and Livelihoods
State authorities are placing their primary focus on conservation-first tourism initiatives, extending tourism activities beyond park gates by engaging local youth as certified guides, operating community-run homestays, and managing jeep safaris. Mallabaruah emphasized that their core objective remains straightforward: tourism must strengthen conservation efforts, and conservation must generate tangible livelihood opportunities for communities residing adjacent to the forests.
