India Emerges as Global Tourism Hub, Centre Says

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 follows a destination-centric approach focused on sustainable and experience-based tourism. Nearly 53 projects worth Rs 2,207.08 crore have been sanctioned to improve planning, infrastructure and visitor experience at selected destinations.

Under the PRASHAD scheme, 54 projects valued at more than Rs 1,726.24 crore have been sanctioned to upgrade facilities at major pilgrimage and heritage sites while preserving their cultural and spiritual character.

Broader connectivity improvements are also supporting access to tourist destinations. Expansion of the national highway network, modernisation of railway stations, introduction of Vande Bharat trains, enhanced regional air connectivity through UDAN, airport development, better last-mile links, e-buses and improved public amenities are reducing travel times.

The next phase of regional connectivity, Viksit UDAN, with an outlay of over Rs 28,840 crore, is expected to further strengthen air travel in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and remote regions through the development of more than 100 new aerodromes and 200 helipads.

Domestic tourist visits reached 2.9 billion in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, while international tourist arrivals stood at 2.02 crore in 2025. The sector contributed Rs 15.73 lakh crore to GDP in FY24, accounting for 5.22 per cent of the economy, and supported nearly 84.6 million jobs in tourism and hospitality in 2023-24.

The government framed the progress as the outcome of coordinated investment in infrastructure, thematic circuit development and improved access, positioning tourism as both an economic contributor and a vehicle for presenting India’s cultural and natural assets to domestic and international visitors.