India marks significant rebound in its tourism industry, driven by infrastructure development, digital innovation, and showcasing its rich cultural heritage, as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights a new momentum on World Tourism Day.
World Tourism Day gave India’s government a platform to underline how strongly the sector has rebounded, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh saying the industry is gaining fresh momentum as investment in connectivity, infrastructure and heritage protection accelerates. In a post on X, Singh linked that revival to efforts to showcase India’s cultural and natural attractions to a wider global audience.
He said India offers visitors “an unparalleled journey through its civilisational heritage”, citing ancient temples, historic monuments, natural landmarks and cultural traditions. Singh also argued that the administration is putting greater emphasis on “world-class infrastructure” and conservation, with the aim of presenting India as both a welcoming and responsible destination.
The government’s own figures point to the scale of the recovery. According to data highlighted by the tourism ministry, the sector contributed 5.22% to gross domestic product in 2023-24 and supported 8.46 crore jobs. Domestic tourist visits rose to 428.55 crore in 2025 from 67.7 crore in 2021, while foreign tourist visits increased to 2.53 crore from 0.1 crore over the same period. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism also climbed sharply to Rs 2,76,831 crore in 2025 from Rs 63,978 crore in 2021.
Officials have increasingly framed tourism as a technology-led business as well as a cultural one. This year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”, reflected that shift, with the government pointing to the role of artificial intelligence and online services in making travel more personalised and easier to navigate. India’s e-Visa system, which began in 2014 for nationals of 43 countries, now covers 172 countries, and the ministry says about 78% of visas are issued electronically, with nearly 95% of e-Visa applications processed within 72 hours. The revamped Incredible India Digital Platform now includes virtual experiences across heritage, adventure, food, wellness, art and rural tourism, alongside AI tools such as weather updates and city guides. The ministry is also preparing to launch the National Digital Tourism Stack and expand promotion of lesser-known destinations through Dekho Apna Desh 2.0. Infrastructure plans are moving in parallel, including a Modified UDAN scheme backed by Rs 28,840 crore to develop 100 airports and 200 modern helipads between 2026-27 and 2035-36.
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