Ministry of Tourism
POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY IN TOURIST ARRIVALS
Posted On: 16 MAR 2026 3:41PM by PIB Delhi
Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) reached 2.51 billion in 2023, marking a robust post-pandemic recovery. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2024 touched 9.95 million. The details are Annexed.
As per the estimates of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the total number of tourism jobs (direct and indirect) during 2023–24 was 84.63 million (8.46 Crore). The total share of tourism in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2023-24 (Provisional) is estimated at 5.22%.
Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism, the State Governments/UT’s viz Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh have deployed tourist police.
Ministry of Tourism has been periodically requesting all State Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women’ under Nirbhaya fund which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.
The Ministry of Tourism along with all stakeholders, including the Tourism Departments of all States and UTs, have adopted the ‘Code of Conduct for Safe & Honorable Tourism‘ which is a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, in particular, women and children.
Further, The Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India has formulated Model Adventure Safety Guidelines with an aim to establish a comprehensive and standardized framework to ensure safety in the Adventure Tourism sector across India. These guidelines have been circulated to all States and Union Territories for adoption and formulation / updation of safety protocols.
Effective and adequate connectivity is one of the important aspects for developing a tourist destination. Ministry of Tourism is working closely with Ministry of Civil Aviation for improving the air connectivity to important tourist destination and to lesser known/new destinations with high potential. It has coordinated with Ministry of Civil Aviation under their Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN) and is sharing the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) amount for 53 tourism routes identified for this purpose.
With a view to bring in more transparency, accountability and improved service delivery, the Ministry of Tourism introduced an online system of receiving, processing and granting approvals for classification of Accommodation Units and recognition of Tourism Service Providers. Applications can be filed at the portal of National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI+), i.e. nidhi.tourism.gov.in. This online process has also been integrated with a payment gateway.
The Ministry of Tourism has launched a Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of tourism industry, namely Tour Operators, Accommodation, and Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes and Rivers sectors. The criterion has been adopted by the stakeholders.
ANNEXURE
List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 as on 15.01.2026
|
S. No. |
State |
Destination |
Name of the Experience |
Sanction Year |
Sanctioned Cost (in ₹ Crore) |
Amount Authorised |
|
1 |
Andhra Pradesh |
Bapatala |
Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience |
2024-25 |
97.52 |
9.75 |
|
2 |
Andhra Pradesh |
Araku-Lambasingi |
Borra Cave Experience at Araku |
2023-24 |
29.88 |
2.99 |
|
3 |
Arunachal Pradesh |
Mechuka |
Mechuka Cultural Haat |
2023-24 |
18.48 |
1.85 |
|
4 |
Arunachal Pradesh |
Mechuka |
Mechuka Adventure Park |
2023-24 |
12.75 |
1.28 |
|
5 |
Arunachal Pradesh |
Nacho |
Unlock Nacho Expedition |
2023-24 |
14.02 |
1.40 |
|
6 |
Assam |
Kokrajhar |
Kokrajhar Wetland Experience |
2023-24 |
26.68 |
2.67 |
|
7 |
Assam |
Jorhat |
Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate |
2023- 24 |
23.88 |
2.39 |
|
8 |
Bihar |
Bodh Gaya |
Development of the Buddhist Meditation & Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya |
2024-25 |
165.44 |
16.54 |
|
9 |
Chhattisgarh |
Kawardha |
Bhoramdeo Corridor Development, Kawardha |
2024-25 |
145.99 |
14.60 |
|
10 |
DNHDD |
Daman |
Daman Convention Centre |
2024-25 |
147.13 |
— |
|
11 |
Goa |
Porvorim |
Porvorim Creek Experience |
2024-25 |
24.07 |
2.41 |
|
12 |
Goa |
Colva |
Colva Beach Experience |
2024-25 |
19.89 |
1.99 |
|
13 |
Haryana |
Panchkula |
Development of Adventure Tourism Hub at Tikkar Taal and Adventure Park |
2024-25 |
26.68 |
2.67 |
|
14 |
Haryana |
Panchkula |
Rejuvenation of Yadavindra Garden |
2024-25 |
65.82 |
6.58 |
|
15 |
Himachal Pradesh |
Chintpurni |
Development of Maa Chintpurni Devi Temple, Una |
2025-26 |
56.26 |
5.63 |
|
16 |
Karnataka |
Mysuru |
Ecological Experience Zone |
2023-24 |
18.48 |
1.85 |
|
17 |
Karnataka |
Mysuru |
Tonga ride Heritage experience zone |
2023-24 |
2.72 |
0.27 |
|
18 |
Karnataka |
Hampi |
Setting up of ‘Traveller nooks’ |
2023-24 |
25.64 |
2.56 |
|
19 |
Kerala |
Alappuzha |
Alappuzha: A Global Water Wonderland |
2024-25 |
93.18 |
9.32 |
|
20 |
Kerala |
Malampuzha |
Enhancement of Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park |
2024-25 |
75.87 |
7.59 |
|
21 |
Kerala |
Kumarakom |
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience |
2023-24 |
13.81 |
1.38 |
|
22 |
Ladakh |
Leh |
Julley Leh Biodiversity Park |
2023-24 |
23.17 |
2.32 |
|
23 |
Ladakh |
Kargil |
Exploring LOC & Hundarman village Exp |
2023-24 |
11.91 |
1.19 |
|
24 |
Lakshadweep |
Bangaram |
Development of Eco-Retreat, Adventure, Beach and Mice Experience at Bangaram |
2024-25 |
81.18 |
8.12 |
|
25 |
Madhya Pradesh |
Chitrakoot |
Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot |
2023-24 |
27.22 |
2.72 |
|
26 |
Madhya Pradesh |
Gwalior |
Phoolbagh Experience Zone |
2023-24 |
16.74 |
1.67 |
|
27 |
Madhya Pradesh |
Datia |
Development of Pitambara Peeth Datia |
2025-26 |
44.24 |
4.42 |
|
28 |
Maharashtra |
Pune |
Shivshrusthi Theme Park |
2024-25 |
76.22 |
7.62 |
|
29 |
Meghalaya |
Sohra |
Waterfall Trails Experience |
2023-24 |
27.61 |
2.76 |
|
30 |
Meghalaya |
Sohra |
Meghalayan Age Cave Experience |
2023-24 |
32.45 |
3.25 |
|
31 |
Mizoram |
Champhai |
Eco Resort Experience at Keilungliah, Zote, Ngur&Mualbuhvum, Champhai |
2024-25 |
38.85 |
3.89 |
|
32 |
Mizoram |
Champhai |
Heritage and Cultural Centre, Champhai |
2024-25 |
33.87 |
3.39 |
|
33 |
Mizoram |
Aizawl |
Construction of Conference Centre |
2025-26 |
99.71 |
9.96 |
|
34 |
Nagaland |
Chumoukedima |
Adventure Tourism Experience at Jacob Village, Chumoukediema |
2024-25 |
32.54 |
3.25 |
|
35 |
Nagaland |
Chumoukedima |
Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedima viewpoint |
2024-25 |
7.87 |
0.79 |
|
36 |
Nagaland |
Chumoukedima |
Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat |
2023-24 |
21.57 |
2.16 |
|
37 |
Puducherry |
Karaikal |
Karaikal beach and waterfront experience |
2023-24 |
20.30 |
— |
|
38 |
Punjab |
Amritsar |
Border Tourism Experience at Attari |
2024-25 |
25.91 |
2.59 |
|
39 |
Punjab |
Kapurthala |
Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland |
2023-24 |
20.06 |
— |
|
40 |
Rajasthan |
Sikar |
Development works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar) |
2024-25 |
87.87 |
8.79 |
|
41 |
Rajasthan |
Bundi |
Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan |
2023-24 |
21.65 |
2.17 |
|
42 |
Rajasthan |
Bikaner dist. |
Development Works at Shri Karni mata mandir, Bikaner |
2025-26 |
22.58 |
2.26 |
|
43 |
Rajasthan |
MalaseriDungari (District Bhilwara) |
Development of MalaseriDungri, Bhilwara District |
2025-26 |
48.73 |
4.87 |
|
44 |
Sikkim |
Gyalshing |
Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster |
2023-24 |
15.41 |
1.54 |
|
45 |
Sikkim |
Gangtok |
Gangtok Cultural Village |
2023-24 |
22.60 |
11.30 |
|
46 |
Tamil Nadu |
Mamallapuram |
Immersive experience at Shore Temple |
2023-24 |
30.02 |
— |
|
47 |
Telangana |
Ananathagiri |
Eco tourism zone at Ananathgiri forest |
2023-24 |
38.00 |
3.80 |
|
48 |
Telangana |
Bhongir |
Bhongir Fort Experiential Zone |
2023-24 |
56.82 |
5.68 |
|
49 |
Tripura |
Agartala |
Tripura Heritage Village & Sangeet Experience at Agartala (Phase-1 &2) |
2024-25 |
48.95 |
4.89 |
|
50 |
Uttar Pradesh |
Naimisaranya |
Vedic- wellness Experience |
2023-24 |
17.80 |
— |
|
51 |
Uttar Pradesh |
Prayagraj |
Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Experince |
2023-24 |
14.52 |
1.45 |
|
52 |
Uttarakhand |
Champawat |
Tea Garden Experience |
2023-24 |
19.89 |
1.99 |
|
53 |
Uttarakhand |
Pithoragarh |
Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji |
2023-24 |
17.86 |
1.79 |
|
Total |
2208.31 |
206.35 |
||||
Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme during 2023-25
|
S. No. |
State |
Project Name |
Sanction Year |
Sanction Amount (in ₹ Crore) |
Amount Released (in ₹ Crore) |
|
1 |
Andhra Pradesh |
Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town |
2024-25 |
25.33 |
6.74 |
|
2 |
Bihar |
Development of Ambika Bhawani Temple, Saran |
2024-25 |
13.29 |
0 |
|
3 |
Goa |
Development of Bom Jesus Basilica |
2024-25 |
16.46 |
4.68 |
|
4 |
Karnataka |
Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysuru |
2023-24 |
45.38 |
13.33 |
|
5 |
Karnataka |
Development of Renuka Yallama Devi temple |
2024-25 |
18.37 |
0 |
|
6 |
Karnataka |
Development of Basic Amenities at Papnash Temple, Bidar dist. |
2024-25 |
22.25 |
6.3 |
|
7 |
Mizoram |
Development of Basic Amenities under PRASHAD scheme in Vangchhia, Champhai District |
2024-25 |
5.47 |
1.56 |
|
8 |
Puducherry |
Development of Pilgrim Facilites & Tourist attractions for Sri Dharbaranyeswara Temple |
2024-25 |
25.94 |
0 |
|
9 |
Tamil Nadu |
Development of 8 Navagraha Temples |
2024-25 |
40.94 |
0 |
|
10 |
Telangana |
Development of Basic Amenities at goddess Renuka Yellama Devasthanam |
2024-25 |
4.22 |
0 |
This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
*****
M Annadurai
(Release ID: 2240657) Visitor Counter : 36
