New Delhi: In a bold move to boost its tourism sector, India has set its sights on creating a 3 trillion tourism economy by 2047, positioning itself as one of the world's most attractive travel destinations. The country welcomed 9.2 million foreign tourists in 2023, reflecting a strong recovery from the pandemic with a substantial increase in international arrivals.* The latest statistics reveal that India welcomed 14.3 million international tourists in 2022, generating an impressive revenue of ₹17.6 billion.
The ongoing year has continued to show positive trends, with nearly 4.78 million foreign tourist arrivals recorded from January to June 2023, marking a remarkable year-on-year growth of 43.5 percent. June alone reported an increase of 9 percent in foreign tourist arrivals, with 706,045 visitors compared to 648,008 in the same month last year. The Indian government attributes this resurgence to strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and enriching the overall visitor experience.
Despite encountering various challenges, the sector is thriving, fueled by a commitment to overcoming obstacles and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. As part of the promotional efforts, the Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Chalo India’ campaign, offering free visas to the first 100,000 foreign visitors. This initiative aims to encourage more travelers to explore the diverse offerings of the country. In conjunction with this campaign, the Ministry has unveiled the Incredible India content hub on its revamped digital portal.
This platform is designed to support a wide range of stakeholders, including tour operators, journalists, researchers, filmmakers, and influencers, facilitating better engagement and knowledge-sharing within the tourism sector. In a bid to further involve citizens in tourism development, the government is implementing feedback mechanisms at airports and railway stations, allowing visitors to share their experiences at tourist attractions throughout the country.
Additionally, to streamline tourism growth at the state and union territory levels, the Ministry has introduced a handbook intended to guide local governments in granting and implementing ‘industry status’ for the tourism and hospitality sectors. With these initiatives and a clear vision for the future, India is well on its way to achieving its goal of becoming a leading global travel destination, ready to welcome millions of tourists in the years to come.