India as a Tourism Hub

Key Highlights:

• India's tourism sector contributed ₹15.73 lakh crore (5.22% of GDP) in FY 2023-24 and supported 84.6 million jobs.
• Domestic tourist visits reached 2.9 billion in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
• Government schemes like Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, and Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) are developing tourism infrastructure.
• Connectivity is enhanced through national highway expansion, modernised railways, and regional air connectivity via UDAN and Viksit UDAN.
• The e-Tourist Visa facility is extended to 175 countries, simplifying international travel to India.
• India's G20 Presidency showcased its tourism potential across 60+ cities, boosting MICE Tourism and global visibility.
• The focus is on sustainable and inclusive tourism, promoting Travel for LiFE and community participation.

Detailed Insights:

• Tourism serves as a national growth engine, fostering economic growth, employment, and regional development across various sectors.
• India's tourism advantage stems from its diverse offerings, including 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 106 National Parks.
• Major tourism segments include Spiritual, Buddhist, Heritage, Wellness, Eco-tourism, Rural, MICE, Coastal, Cruise, and Adventure tourism.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0 adopts a destination-centric approach, focusing on sustainable and experience-based tourism development.
• PRASHAD scheme improves infrastructure at major pilgrimage and heritage destinations, enhancing facilities for visitors.
• Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) initiative supports high-potential spiritual and eco-tourism destinations.
• NIDHI+ is a unified digital platform for registration, recognition, and classification of hospitality service providers.
• Innovation in tourism is driven by 1,497 DPIIT-recognised startups, many in Tier II and Tier III cities, creating employment.
• Sustainable tourism contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting inclusive growth, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Swadesh Darshan: A scheme for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India.
• PRASHAD Scheme: Focuses on infrastructure development at pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
• UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik): A regional connectivity scheme to make air travel affordable and widespread.
• e-Tourist Visa: An electronic visa facility simplifying entry procedures for international tourists to India.
• NIDHI+ (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry): A digital platform for hospitality service provider registration and classification.
• MICE Tourism: Refers to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions, a segment of business tourism.
• Travel for LiFE: A government initiative promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.