Addressing a question by T3 about the much-anticipated National Tourism Policy, Shekhawat stated that it is being revisited with inputs from various states. Highlighting other initiatives, infrastructure expansion, and a renewed focus on sustainability, GS Shekhawat further detailed efforts to bolster domestic and international tourism, including visa-free travel for 100000 FTAs, strategic engagements and high-impact projects worth INR 3,300 crores.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism and Culture Minister, during a media briefing in Delhi, projected that India’s tourism sector is set to outpace the country’s overall economic growth, with an estimated annual growth rate exceeding 15%.
“Through a whole-of-government approach and the vision of our PM Narendra Modi, India is witnessing holistic development. This includes fostering a renewed respect for the nation’s heritage, transforming global perceptions of India, and citizens with increased disposable income. As a result, tourism in India has grown significantly, attracting a steadily rising number of tourists,” he said.
Notably, India’s ranking in the Global Travel and Tourism Development Index has improved from 65 to 39. Speaking numbers, Shekhawat shared that international tourist arrivals have increased from 1.31 crore in 2014 to 1.8 crore in 2023. Notably, the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs ) in India during 2023 increased to 95 lakh as compared to 77 lakh in 2014, registering a growth of 23.96 per cent.
As part of the government’s strategy to attract more foreign tourists, 100,000 tourists will now benefit from visa-free travel, a pilot initiative launched in the UK during the World Travel Mart. Feedback and interest post announcement has been overwhelmingly positive, the minister said. Further, the government launched e-Tourist Visa in November 2014, which has helped the prospective visitors to apply for Indian visa online from their home country without visiting the Indian Mission.
On the other hand, domestic tourism has seen exponential growth, said Shekhawat. The number of domestic tourists has witnessed a significant increase of 95.64 %. Notably, the domestic tourist visits (DTV) in India during 2023 stood at 2,509 million and is poised to grow further. Shekhawat attributed the growth of domestic tourism to enhanced infrastructure. Nearly 1,50,000 km of road network has been laid, over 500 new air routes and over 150 new airports have enhanced air connectivity, high speed Vande Bharat trains have been introduced, 100 tourism infrastructure projects have been completed, among other initiatives.
To further boost tourism infrastructure, the government has initiated projects worth INR 3,300 crores across 23 states. Shekhawat also highlighted significant progress in marketing and promotion efforts, along with improvements in ease of travel.
The minister also spoke about the global promotional campaigns and projects aimed at enhancing India’s cultural and tourism landscape. He said that vigorous efforts are being made to make tourism an integral part of building a ‘ Developed India’. A total of 76.17 million jobs have been created in the tourism sector. ‘ Tourism Mitra ‘ and ‘ Tourism Didi ‘ programmes have been launched. Foreign exchange earnings are estimated at $ 28.07 billion, showing a growth of 42.53 per cent over 2014.
He also emphasized efforts to develop new destinations to decongest overcrowded sites. “To ensure the tourist destinations must be sustainable, we are addressing this on both the demand and supply sides in collaboration with states,” Shekhawat stated, adding that more than INR 6,800 crore has been spent on destination development projects. “The Swadesh Darshan and Prashad schemes have been game-changers too,” said Shekhawat, noting the completion of 120 projects.
To spotlight lesser-known tourist destinations, 40 high-impact projects across 23 states have been approved under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, with an allocation of INR 3,295.76 crore. The initiative aims to enhance tourism infrastructure and visitor experiences while fostering local economic growth and generating employment opportunities through sustainable tourism projects.
National Tourism Policy Update
Addressing questions by T3 about the much-anticipated National Tourism Policy, Shekhawat stated that it is being revisited with inputs from various states. “We have worked with the best individuals in tourism and compiled the investment policies related to tourism from different states across the country. Rajasthan’s policy was once considered the benchmark, but states like Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Madhya Pradesh have made remarkable progress,” he said.
“We consolidated all these efforts to develop a best-policy format and shared it with the states on the occasion of the last International Tourism Day,” added Shekhawat, noting that the consolidated policy framework is expected to provide a roadmap for sustainable and inclusive tourism growth across the country. “All states are now working seriously in this direction concerning the National Tourism Policy,” he added, while refraining from specifying a timeline for its official announcement.
The Ministry of Tourism had drafted a comprehensive National Tourism Policy, reflecting recent developments in the sector. Initially expected to be launched by 2023, the policy outlines a strategic framework to bolster India’s tourism ecosystem, support the industry, and foster growth across sub-sectors. Its key objectives include boosting tourism’s economic contribution by increasing visitor numbers, duration of stays, and spending; creating jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities supported by a skilled workforce; enhancing sector competitiveness to attract private investments; preserving and promoting India’s cultural and natural heritage; and ensuring sustainable, responsible, and inclusive tourism development.
This policy, once out, is envisioned as a blueprint to elevate India’s tourism sector, driving economic growth and positioning the nation as a global tourism powerhouse.
