The government on Monday stated that India welcomed 61.91 lakh foreign tourists during the January-August period this year, marking an increase from the 59.71 lakh arrivals recorded in the same months of the previous year.
In response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha on the first day of Parliament’s winter session, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared that the total foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) for 2023 stood at 9.52 million (90.52 lakh).
Key Takeaways
The minister stated, “As per the UNWTO Barometer published in September 2024, export revenues from international tourism in 2023 recorded at $1.8 trillion, which includes receipts from tourism activities as well as passenger transport.”
In 2022-23, the tourism sector’s contribution to India’s GDP rose to 5 percent, a notable increase from 1.75 percent in the previous year (2021-22).
The Ministry of Tourism conducts a range of promotional activities in key and emerging tourist markets to highlight India’s tourism potential and boost tourism across the country, including in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
The minister further asserted, “The Chalo India initiative has been launched by the Ministry to encourage the huge Indian diaspora to become Incredible India ambassadors and encourage their five non-Indian friends to visit India, every year.”
The Ministry also launched a dedicated ‘Chalo India’ portal for registering the Indian diaspora, which includes approximately five million OCI cardholders.
Each OCI holder can nominate up to five individuals, with a total of 100,000 free e-visas available under this initiative.
Additionally, the Ministry is investing in enhancing tourism infrastructure through programs like ‘Swadesh Darshan’, ‘PRASHAD’, and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’.
These initiatives, carried out in collaboration with States, Union Territories, and private stakeholders, aim to improve tourist facilities nationwide.
The ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive’ (PRASHAD) scheme is another important effort, providing financial assistance to state and union territory governments for developing infrastructure at key pilgrimage sites and heritage cities, reinforcing India’s appeal as a spiritual and cultural destination.
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