Ahmedabad: The NRI wedding season in Gujarat, which usually runs from November to February, remained subdued this year due to uncertainty over immigration rules and visa restrictions, affecting international travel, airlines and the hospitality sector.

Every year, nearly 30 lakh international passengers travel through Ahmedabad airport, of which over 40% are NRIs or people of Gujarati origin. According to reports, around 4 to 5 lakh NRIs typically visit Gujarat during the wedding season, but this year the number dropped by nearly 40% due to concerns related to immigration policies in countries such as the United States, Canada and the UK.

Travel operators estimate that the decline in passengers led to a significant fall in airline revenues, with losses of up to 70% during the peak wedding season. Normally, there is heavy demand for flights from London, New York, Toronto and Sydney to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and one-way fares often rise to Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, but this year lower passenger traffic reduced airline earnings.

According to travel agencies, many Gujaratis settled abroad avoided travelling to India due to stricter immigration rules, particularly in the US, fearing difficulty in re-entering after visiting India. As a result, several families could not attend weddings this season.

The fall in NRI arrivals also impacted hotels, resorts, event management firms, caterers and mandap decorators, as overseas guests usually spend heavily on wedding functions. Industry sources said overall spending during the season was significantly lower this year.

The trend has also affected overseas education from Gujarat. The number of students going abroad, especially to Canada, the UK, the US and Australia, has declined. Estimates suggest that the number of students going to Canada alone has fallen by nearly 75%.

Education loan data shows that loans worth about Rs 595 crore were sanctioned in 2023 in Gujarat for overseas studies, which dropped to around Rs 377 crore in 2025. There has also been a decline in the number of students undergoing medical tests required for foreign travel.

Experts say the demand for studying in Canada and the UK has weakened, with more students now exploring options in European countries. In the UK, high sponsorship costs of Rs 25–30 lakh after completion of studies have forced many students to return to India, further reducing interest in overseas education.

Since early 2025, the number of students from Gujarat going to the US, Canada, Australia and the UK has seen a noticeable decline, reflecting the impact of stricter immigration policies and rising costs. DeshGujarat