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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3886
ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026
POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY IN TOURIST ARRIVALS
3886. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:
Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs)
exceeded 1.65 billion in 2023, reflecting strong post-pandemic
recovery, while Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) crossed 9.5 million in
2024 with further growth reported in 2025;
(b) the details of tourism infrastructure projects sanctioned and funded
under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD schemes during the years
2023–25, including outlay and completion status, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether any impact assessment has been undertaken on employment
generation in tourism, which supports over 8 crore direct and indirect
jobs and contributes about 7.5 percent of country's GDP; and
(d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to enhance tourist
safety, digital ticketing and unified portals, last-mile connectivity and
adoption of sustainable and responsible tourism practices at major
destinations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)
(a): 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.
(b): The details are Annexed.
(c): 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%.(d): 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 & Honourable 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 classificationof 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
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO.3886 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 REGARDING POST-
PANDEMIC RECOVERY IN TOURIST ARRIVALS RAISED BY DR. D RAVI
KUMAR
List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 as on 15.01.2026
Sanction
Amount
S. Name of the Sanction ed Cost
State Destination Authorised
No. Experience Year (in ₹
(in ₹ Crore)
Crore)
Development of
Andhra Suryalanka
1 Bapatala 2024-25 97.52 9.75
Pradesh Beach
Experience
Borra Cave
Andhra Araku-
2 Experience at 2023-24 29.88 2.99
Pradesh Lambasingi
Araku
Arunachal Mechuka
3 Mechuka 2023-24 18.48 1.85
Pradesh Cultural Haat
Arunachal Mechuka
4 Mechuka 2023-24 12.75 1.28
Pradesh Adventure Park
Arunachal Unlock Nacho
5 Nacho 2023-24 14.02 1.40
Pradesh Expedition
Kokrajhar 2023-24
Wetland (Rev
6 Assam Kokrajhar 26.68 2.67
Experience March
2025)
Reimagining 2023- 24
Cinnamara Tea (Rev
7 Assam Jorhat 23.88 2.39
Estate March
2025)
Development of
the Buddhist
Meditation &
8 Bihar Bodh Gaya 2024-25 165.44 16.54
Experience
Centre, Bodh
Gaya
Bhoramdeo
9 Chhattisgarh Kawardha 2024-25 145.99 14.60
CorridorDevelopment,
Kawardha
Daman
10 DNHDD Daman Convention 2024-25 147.13 ---
Centre
Porvorim Creek
11 Goa Porvorim 2024-25 24.07 2.41
Experience
Colva Beach
12 Goa Colva 2024-25 19.89 1.99
Experience
Development of
Adventure
13 Haryana Panchkula Tourism Hub at 2024-25 26.68 2.67
Tikkar Taal and
Adventure Park
Rejuvenation of
14 Haryana Panchkula Yadavindra 2024-25 65.82 6.58
Garden
Development of
Himachal Maa Chintpurni
15 Chintpurni 2025-26 56.26 5.63
Pradesh Devi Temple,
Una
Ecological
16 Karnataka Mysuru Experience 2023-24 18.48 1.85
Zone
Tonga ride
2023-24
Heritage
17 Karnataka Mysuru (Rev Jan 2.72 0.27
experience
2025)
zone
Setting up of 2023-24
18 Karnataka Hampi ‘Traveller (Rev Jan 25.64 2.56
nooks’ 2025)
Alappuzha: A 2024-25
19 Kerala Alappuzha Global Water (Rev Jan 93.18 9.32
Wonderland 2025)
Enhancement
of Tourist
Experience at
20 Kerala Malampuzha 2024-25 75.87 7.59
Malampuzha
Garden and
Leisure ParkKumarakom
21 Kerala Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary 2023-24 13.81 1.38
Experience
Julley Leh 2023-24
Biodiversity (Rev
22 Ladakh Leh 23.17 2.32
Park May
2025)
Exploring LOC 2023-24
& Hundarman (Rev
23 Ladakh Kargil 11.91 1.19
village Exp May
2025)
Development of
Eco-Retreat,
Lakshadwe Adventure,
24 Bangaram 2024-25 81.18 8.12
ep Beach and Mice
Experience at
Bangaram
Spiritual
Madhya
25 Chitrakoot experience at 2023-24 27.22 2.72
Pradesh
Chitrakoot
Phoolbagh
Madhya
26 Gwalior Experience 2023-24 16.74 1.67
Pradesh
Zone
Development of
Madhya
27 Datia Pitambara 2025-26 44.24 4.42
Pradesh
Peeth Datia
Shivshrusthi
28 Maharashtra Pune 2024-25 76.22 7.62
Theme Park
Waterfall Trails 2023-24
Experience (Rev
29 Meghalaya Sohra 27.61 2.76
Sep
2025)
Meghalayan
30 Meghalaya Sohra Age Cave 2023-24 32.45 3.25
Experience
Eco Resort
Experience at
Keilungliah,
31 Mizoram Champhai 2024-25 38.85 3.89
Zote,
Ngur&Mualbuhv
um, ChamphaiHeritage and
32 Mizoram Champhai Cultural Centre, 2024-25 33.87 3.39
Champhai
Construction of
33 Mizoram Aizawl Conference 2025-26 99.71 9.96
Centre
Adventure
Tourism
Chumoukedi Experience at
34 Nagaland 2024-25 32.54 3.25
ma Jacob Village,
Chumoukediem
a
Eco-Tourism
Chumoukedi Exp at
35 Nagaland 2024-25 7.87 0.79
ma Chumoukedima
viewpoint
Tribal Cultural
Chumoukedi
36 Nagaland Experience at 2023-24 21.57 2.16
ma
Midway Retreat
Karaikal beach
37 Puducherry Karaikal and waterfront 2023-24 20.30 ---
experience
Border Tourism
38 Punjab Amritsar Experience at 2024-25 25.91 2.59
Attari
Eco Tourism
39 Punjab Kapurthala experience at 2023-24 20.06 ---
Kanjli wetland
Development
works at Shri
40 Rajasthan Sikar 2024-25 87.87 8.79
Khatu Shyam Ji
Temple (Sikar)
Spiritual
41 Rajasthan Bundi Experience, 2023-24 21.65 2.17
Keshavraipatan
Development
Works at Shri
42 Rajasthan Bikaner dist. 2025-26 22.58 2.26
Karni mata
mandir, Bikaner
MalaseriDun Development of
43 Rajasthan gari (District MalaseriDungri, 2025-26 48.73 4.87
Bhilwara)Bhilwara
District
Eco-Wellness
44 Sikkim Gyalshing Experience at 2023-24 15.41 1.54
Yuksom Cluster
Gangtok
45 Sikkim Gangtok 2023-24 22.60 11.30
Cultural Village
Immersive 2023-24
experience at (Rev
46 Tamil Nadu Mamallapuram 30.02 ---
Shore Temple May
2025)
Eco tourism
zone at
47 Telangana Ananathagiri 2023-24 38.00 3.80
Ananathgiri
forest
Bhongir Fort
48 Telangana Bhongir Experiential 2023-24 56.82 5.68
Zone
Tripura
Heritage Village
& Sangeet
49 Tripura Agartala 2024-25 48.95 4.89
Experience at
Agartala
(Phase-1 &2)
Vedic- wellness 2023-24
Uttar Experience (Rev
50 Naimisaranya 17.80 ---
Pradesh March
2025)
Azad Park and 2023-24
Uttar Dekho (Rev
51 Prayagraj 14.52 1.45
Pradesh Prayagraj Trail March
Experince 2025)
Tea Garden 2023-24
Experience (Rev
52 Uttarakhand Champawat 19.89 1.99
March
2025)
Rural Tourism 2023-24
Cluster (Rev
53 Uttarakhand Pithoragarh 17.86 1.79
Experience at March
Gunji 2025)
Total 2208.31 206.35Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme during 2023-25
Sanction Amount
S. Sanction Amount Released
State Project Name
No. Year (in ₹ (in ₹
Crore) Crore)
Development of Pilgrimage
Andhra
1 Tourism Infrastructure in 2024-25 25.33 6.74
Pradesh
Annavaram Temple Town
Development of Ambika
2 Bihar 2024-25 13.29 0
Bhawani Temple, Saran
Development of Bom Jesus
3 Goa 2024-25 16.46 4.68
Basilica
Development of Pilgrimage
Amenities at Sri
4 Karnataka 2023-24 45.38 13.33
Chamundeshwari Devi
Temple, Mysuru
Development of Renuka
5 Karnataka 2024-25 18.37 0
Yallama Devi temple
Development of Basic
6 Karnataka Amenities at Papnash 2024-25 22.25 6.3
Temple, Bidar dist.
Development of Basic
Amenities under PRASHAD
7 Mizoram 2024-25 5.47 1.56
scheme in Vangchhia,
Champhai District
Development of Pilgrim
Facilites & Tourist
8 Puducherry 2024-25 25.94 0
attractions for Sri
Dharbaranyeswara Temple
Development of 8 Navagraha
9 Tamil Nadu 2024-25 40.94 0
Temples
Development of Basic
Amenities at goddess
10 Telangana 2024-25 4.22 0
Renuka Yellama
Devasthanam
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