The evacuation of tourists before hurricanes or cyclones is grossly understudied compared to the evacuation of residents, especially in developing countries. To address this gap, the challenges encountered while evacuating tourists from Puri in India before Cyclone Fani in 2019 were studied. Key informant interviews were conducted with stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of the evacuation operation and their individual roles in it. The major administrative issues identified were: a) inefficiencies in risk communication and b) reactive approach to transportation supply management. Delayed actions led to confusion, insufficient transport supply and delayed the evacuation operation. Tourists were reported to show resistance against evacuation, when the authorities were enforcing the evacuation order. Their resistance stemmed from regret for their unfinished holiday, faith in Lord Jagannath as the savior of Puri, and eagerness to experience the cyclone for its thrill. According to the hoteliers' observations, the presence of elderly and child members in tourist groups motivated evacuation, while higher leftover stay duration deterred them from evacuating. To improve the timeliness of evacuation operations and manage behavioral issues, three categories of interventions are advocated.