Tourism in India

Tourism in India has always been a pillar of cultural exchange, economic growth, and global recognition. With its vast geography, diverse traditions, and centuries-old heritage, India attracts millions of domestic and international travelers every year.

Tourism in India – Key Facts 2025

• Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs): 56 lakh (till August 2025)
• Domestic Tourist Visits: 303.59 crore (till August 2025)
• Inbound Tourism: 16.5 lakh visitors (June 2025)
• Outbound Tourism: 84.4 lakh travelers (June 2025)
• Foreign Exchange Earnings: ₹51,532 crore
• Tourism GDP Contribution: ₹15.73 lakh crore in 2023–24 (5.22% of economy)
• Employment Generated: 84.62 million jobs (direct + indirect), 13.34% of total employment

Types of Tourism in India

The diversity of India allows for multiple forms of tourism that cater to different travelers:

1. Cultural Tourism – Exploring monuments, forts, palaces, art, and festivals.
2. Religious Tourism – Visiting pilgrimage centers like Varanasi, Rameswaram, Golden Temple, Tirupati, Bodh Gaya, and Ajmer Sharif.
3. Eco Tourism – Focusing on nature, wildlife, and sustainability (Kaziranga, Jim Corbett, Kerala backwaters).
4. Adventure Tourism – Trekking in Himalayas, rafting in Rishikesh, paragliding in Bir, scuba diving in Andaman.
5. Medical Tourism – Affordable healthcare, Ayurveda, Yoga, wellness retreats.
6. Wedding Tourism – India as a global wedding destination under the “India says I Do” campaign.
7. MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) – Venues like Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi.

Eco Tourism in India: Balancing Nature & Development

• Swadesh Darshan 2.0 projects like Tehri Lake (Uttarakhand) and Sohra (Meghalaya) are promoting nature and adventure tourism.
• Wildlife circuits in Assam and Chhattisgarh tribal circuits bring communities into tourism.
• Government schemes ensure eco-sensitive planning, green infrastructure, and community livelihood support.

This sector ensures that travelers enjoy the raw beauty of nature while communities benefit from sustainable development.

Medical Tourism in India: The “Heal in India” Movement

Medical tourism has seen exponential growth. In 2025, around 1.31 lakh FTAs were for medical purposes, about 4.1% of total foreign arrivals.

Why India?

• Cost-effective treatments compared to Western nations
• World-class hospitals with global accreditations
• Wellness systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy
• The Heal in India initiative promotes India as a global healthcare hub, blending modern science with traditional wellness.

This makes India a top choice for patients from Africa, Middle East, and South Asia.

Adventure Tourism: Thrill Meets Nature

India’s natural diversity makes it a paradise for adventure seekers. The government has recently:

• Opened 120+ new mountain peaks for trekking and mountaineering
• Expanded river cruises and water sports
• Promoted destinations like Himachal, Ladakh, Meghalaya, Andaman for adventure trails

From skiing in Gulmarg to scuba diving in Lakshadweep, adventure tourism in India is booming and appealing to young domestic travelers as well as international thrill-seekers.

Religious Tourism: Strengthening Heritage

India is home to thousands of temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, and monasteries, making religious tourism a vital sector.

• PRASHAD scheme has redeveloped Tripura Sundari Temple, Somnath promenade, Hazratbal Shrine, and Amarkantak.
• Pilgrimage sites now have better facilities, digital services, and eco-friendly infrastructure.
• 50 new destinations were announced in the 2024–25 budget, with a focus on spiritual tourism.

Religious travel not only fosters faith but also creates local jobs and cultural preservation.

MICE Tourism

• The Ministry of Tourism has reaffirmed its strong commitment to expanding the country’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.
• With iconic venues like Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi, and Jio World Centre, and MICE being prioritised under the Incredible India campaign, the government aims to upgrade at least 10 Indian cities, especially in South India, into global MICE destinations.
• The global MICE industry is projected to grow from USD 870 billion to over USD 1.4 trillion by 2030. India is a significant and rapidly expanding participant. Currently, India accounts for only 5% of the USD 850 billion global MICE market.

Government Schemes Driving Development of Tourism

The government has played a key role in boosting tourism through flagship schemes:

• Swadesh Darshan & Swadesh Darshan 2.0: 110 projects across circuits like Buddhist, Coastal, Himalayan, Tribal.
• PRASHAD Scheme: Redevelopment of major pilgrimage centers.
• Dekho Apna Desh: Promoting domestic tourism via digital campaigns and polls.
• Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP): Developing border villages as tourism hubs.
• SASCI Initiative: ₹3295 crore sanctioned for 40 projects with 100% central funding.
• Incredible India Portal & Content Hub: One-stop travel planning with AI chatbot support.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

In 2014-15, the Ministry of Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) to develop thematic tourism circuits across the country. 76 projects worth₹5,290.30 crore were sanctioned under identified themes, of which 75 projects have been physically completed.
This scheme has been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)in 2023 to develop sustainable tourism destinations that take a tourist- and destination-centric approach.
A few of the sites that have been covered under the scheme include

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Coastal Circuit)
• Bihar (Buddhist Circuit)
• Arunachal Pradesh (North-east Circuit)
• Assam (Wildlife Circuit)
• Chhattisgarh (Tribal Circuit)
• Himachal Pradesh (Himalayan Circuit)
• Puducherry (Heritage Circuit)
• Uttarakhand (Eco Circuit)

PRASHAD Scheme

The Ministry of Tourism launched the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) in 2014-15.
PRASHAD is a Central Sector Scheme, financed by the Central Government. As of August 2025, 54 projects covering 28 states and union territories have been sanctioned, with an approved assistance amount exceeding ₹ 1168 crore. Temples Covered under PRASHAD Scheme:

• Tripura Sundari Temple, Tripura,
• Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Karnataka,
• Patna Sahib, Bihar,
• Promenade at Somnath, Gujarat,
• Hazratbal Shrine, Jammu and Kashmir,
• Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh.

Dekho Apna Desh

The Ministry of Tourism launched the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative in January 2020 to promote domestic tourism in the country.

Vibrant Villages Programme – I

• The Vibrant Villages Programme-I (VVP-I), under the Ministry of Home Affairs launched on 15th February 2023 is a central initiative to develop select villages in 46 blocks near the northern border across 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh.
• The programme targets specific villages for interventions that create livelihood opportunities by promoting tourism, cultural heritage, skill development, and entrepreneurship.
• The programme targets specific villages for interventions that create livelihood opportunities by promoting tourism, cultural heritage, skill development, and entrepreneurship.

Vibrant Villages Programme – II

• The Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II), on April 2, 2025, was approved by the Central Government as a Central Sector Scheme with a total budget of Rs. 6,839 crore until the financial year 2028-29.
• It aims to develop select strategic villages located in blocks adjacent to international land borders (ILB), excluding the Northern border areas already included under VVP-I.
• These villages are located in the states and Union Territories of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, J&K (UT), Ladakh (UT), Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment (SASCI)

• To develop an iconic tourist centre on a global scale, the SASCI scheme was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in July 2025.
• The projects under the scheme were selected based on connectivity to the site, the existing tourism ecosystem, carrying capacity, availability of utilities, and other factors, and are to be completed within two years.
• While the government will provide financial support for the projects until March 31, 2026, the implementation and management of the sanctioned projects will rest with the respective State Governments.
• 40 projects worth Rs. 3295.76 crore were sanctioned with full central funding. Jal Mahal, Jaipur (Project under SASCI)

Incredible India Digital Portal

The Incredible India Digital Portal is a tourist-centric, one-stop digital solution designed to enhance the travel experience for visitors to India.

One India, One Registration Initiative under NIDHI Portal

To ensure the quality of services and experiences for different classes of both domestic and international tourists, the Ministry of Tourism, under its voluntary scheme of Incredible India Homestay Establishments, classifies fully operational rooms in homestay facilities across the country, including rural and tribal areas. Homestays are classified into two categories based on the existing guidelines issued by the Ministry: 1. Gold Category, 2. Silver Category.
The States/UTs can avail of assistance of a maximum of Rs. 5 crore for implementing 5-10 homestays per village in a village cluster of 5-6 villages.

Development of Tribal Tourism Circuit

The Ministry of Tourism, in consultation with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, has initiated the ‘Development of Tribal Home Stays’ project under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. The initiative includes funding support to the tribal households and villages for :

• Up to ₹5 lakh for village community requirements
• Up to ₹5 lakh for the construction of two new rooms for each household
• Up to ₹3 lakh for the renovation of existing rooms for each household

Tourism in India Project – Ideal for Students

Students preparing a tourism in India project can explore:

• Importance of tourism to India’s GDP and employment
• Types of tourism in India with examples
• Role of government schemes like Swadesh Darshan & PRASHAD
• Impact of medical tourism and eco-tourism on sustainability
• Case studies on heritage circuits (like Bodh Gaya or Hampi)

Such projects help highlight the transformative role of tourism in India’s economic and cultural development.

Future of Tourism in India

The theme for World Tourism Day 2025 – “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation” highlights the sector’s future direction. India is aligning with this through:

• Green and inclusive tourism infrastructure
• Focus on heritage + development (Vikas + Virasat)
• Expanding digital platforms for planning and booking
• Making India a global hub for MICE, cruise tourism, and weddings

With these initiatives, India is set to become one of the world’s top tourism destinations.

Tourism in India is more than sightseeing — it is an engine of economic growth, a bridge of cultural diplomacy, and a tool of sustainable development. With schemes like Swadesh Darshan, PRASHAD, Dekho Apna Desh, and Heal in India, the government has transformed the sector. From eco tourism in India to medical tourism in India, from adventure sports to religious pilgrimages, India offers something for every traveler.

As we move forward, sustainable and inclusive tourism will not only boost the economy but also strengthen India’s global soft power, ensuring that the country remains a preferred destination for generations to come.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Source: PIB