Kaziranga National Park reopened for the 2026-27 tourism season on Saturday, with jeep safaris resuming at the Kohora Range and the Assam government targeting another increase in visitor numbers after a record 4.68 lakh tourists visited the park last season.
Forest minister Jayanta Mallabaruah inaugurated the new tourism season at Kohora, one of Kaziranga’s main entry points. Elephant safaris are expected to resume within the next 10 to 20 days, according to the minister.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve recorded its highest-ever tourist footfall of 4.68 lakh visitors during the 2025-26 season, up more than 15% from 4.06 lakh visitors in the previous season. Mallabaruah said encouraging booking trends had increased the government’s confidence that arrivals would rise further during the current season.
The park’s one-horned rhinoceroses remain a major draw for visitors from India and abroad. Mallabaruah said Kaziranga recorded zero rhino poaching in 2025 and had maintained that record so far this year. The statement comes as the park prepares to handle renewed demand for safaris and visitor services across its tourism zones.
State cabinet minister Atul Bora and Member of Parliament Kamakhya Prasad Tasa attended the reopening ceremony and welcomed tourists to Assam’s wildlife destinations. The event marked the operational return of jeep safaris, while other visitor activities will resume in stages as arrangements are completed.
The increase in footfall is also placing greater emphasis on the infrastructure and administrative systems supporting tourism around the park. Mallabaruah called for continued coordination between the Forest and Tourism departments to improve facilities, undertake necessary developmental works and introduce new attractions. He thanked stakeholders for their cooperation in making Kaziranga more tourist-friendly.
The government is also exploring tourism circuits linking Kaziranga with nearby destinations. Mallabaruah said the aim was to encourage visitors to spend between two and four days in the region instead of limiting their trips to a short park visit. The plan could expand the local economic benefits of tourism, although details of the proposed circuits, destinations and infrastructure requirements were not provided in the announcement.
The minister said tourism growth should create greater economic opportunities for communities living around Kaziranga. Residents, he said, should be able to participate in tourism-related activities, become more self-reliant and improve their livelihoods.
At the same time, Mallabaruah said tourism expansion must remain compatible with ecological preservation. He stressed that protecting the park’s natural environment was essential to safeguarding its biodiversity and enabling visitors to experience wildlife in its natural habitat.
The Forest and Tourism departments are expected to continue coordinating on infrastructure improvements, visitor facilities, new attractions and the proposed regional tourism circuits during the 2026-27 season.
