**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Tourism reports a robust post-pandemic recovery with 2.51 billion Domestic Tourist Visits in 2023 and 9.95 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals in 2024. For the 2023-24 period, the sector contributed an estimated 5.22% to India's GDP and supported 84.63 million jobs. Key initiatives focus on enhancing tourist safety, improving regional air connectivity, and digitizing service provider recognition.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Safety and Security Initiatives**
* While safety is a State subject, the Ministry has facilitated the deployment of dedicated "Tourist Police" in 15 States and Union Territories.
* States are encouraged to utilize the Nirbhaya fund for the 'Safe Tourism Destination for Women' project to enhance security for female travelers.
* Stakeholders have adopted the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honorable Tourism' to prevent exploitation and respect the rights of tourists and residents.
* Model Adventure Safety Guidelines have been formulated in association with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India to standardize safety protocols.
* **Infrastructure and Connectivity**
* The Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS-UDAN scheme, sharing Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for 53 identified tourism routes.
* Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme, 53 projects have been sanctioned as of January 2026, with a total sanctioned cost of ₹2208.31 Crore.
* The PRASHAD scheme has sanctioned 10 pilgrimage infrastructure projects during 2023-25, focusing on amenities at temples and religious sites.
* **Digital Transformation and Sustainability**
* An online system via the NIDHI+ portal has been introduced for the classification of accommodation units and recognition of tourism service providers to improve transparency.
* The 'Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India' (STCI) has been launched covering tour operators, accommodation, and water-based tourism segments.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and Union Territory Administrations**
**Impact:** Primary responsibility for implementing safety and infrastructure protocols on the ground.
**Action Required:** Deploy dedicated tourist police, adopt adventure safety protocols, and submit applications for Nirbhaya fund projects.
**Tourism Service Providers and Accommodation Units**
**Impact:** Subject to new transparency standards and sustainability criteria.
**Action Required:** Utilize the NIDHI+ portal for official recognition and classification; adopt the Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI).
**Adventure Tour Operators**
**Impact:** Requirement to align with a standardized national safety framework.
**Action Required:** Implement the Model Adventure Safety Guidelines circulated by the Ministry.
**Ministry of Civil Aviation**
**Impact:** Strategic partner in developing regional tourism hubs.
**Action Required:** Coordinate with the Ministry of Tourism to operationalize the 53 identified tourism routes under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
Swadesh Darshan 2.0: A major scheme for developing sustainable and responsible tourist destinations, with 53 projects sanctioned across various states and Union Territories.
PRASHAD Scheme: An initiative focused on the infrastructure development of pilgrimage sites and heritage destinations to enhance the religious tourism experience.
Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN): A civil aviation scheme utilized by the Ministry of Tourism to improve air connectivity to 53 identified tourism routes through Viability Gap Funding.
Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI): A comprehensive framework launched to standardize and promote sustainability across segments including tour operators, accommodation, and water-based tourism.
Nirbhaya fund: A central fund utilized for the 'Safe Tourism Destination for Women' initiative to enhance safety and security infrastructure for women tourists.
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 theportal 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. State Destination Name of the Sanction Sanctioned Amount
Experience Cost Authorised
No. Year
(in ₹ Crore)
(in ₹
Crore)
1 Andhra Bapatala Development of 2024-25 97.52 9.75
Pradesh Suryalanka Beach
Experience
2 Andhra Araku- Borra Cave 2023-24 29.88 2.99
Pradesh Lambasingi Experience at Araku
3 Arunachal Mechuka Mechuka Cultural 2023-24 18.48 1.85
Pradesh Haat
4 Arunachal Mechuka Mechuka Adventure 2023-24 12.75 1.28
Pradesh Park
5 Arunachal Nacho Unlock Nacho 2023-24 14.02 1.40
Pradesh Expedition
6 Assam Kokrajhar Kokrajhar Wetland 2023-24 26.68 2.67
Experience (Rev
March
2025)
7 Assam Jorhat Reimagining 2023- 24 23.88 2.39
Cinnamara Tea (Rev
Estate March
2025)8 Bihar Bodh Gaya Development of the 2024-25 165.44 16.54
Buddhist Meditation
& Experience
Centre, Bodh Gaya
9 Chhattisgarh Kawardha Bhoramdeo Corridor 2024-25 145.99 14.60
Development,
Kawardha
10 DNHDD Daman Daman Convention 2024-25 147.13 ---
Centre
11 Goa Porvorim Porvorim Creek 2024-25 24.07 2.41
Experience
12 Goa Colva Colva Beach 2024-25 19.89 1.99
Experience
13 Haryana Panchkula Development of 2024-25 26.68 2.67
Adventure Tourism
Hub at Tikkar Taal
and Adventure Park
14 Haryana Panchkula Rejuvenation of 2024-25 65.82 6.58
Yadavindra Garden
15 Himachal Chintpurni Development of 2025-26 56.26 5.63
Pradesh Maa Chintpurni
Devi Temple, Una
16 Karnataka Mysuru Ecological 2023-24 18.48 1.85
Experience Zone
17 Karnataka Mysuru Tonga ride Heritage 2023-24 2.72 0.27
experience zone (Rev Jan
2025)
18 Karnataka Hampi Setting up of 2023-24 25.64 2.56
‘Traveller nooks’ (Rev Jan
2025)
19 Kerala Alappuzha Alappuzha: A Global 2024-25 93.18 9.32
Water Wonderland (Rev Jan
2025)20 Kerala Malampuzha Enhancement of 2024-25 75.87 7.59
Tourist Experience
at Malampuzha
Garden and Leisure
Park
21 Kerala Kumarakom Kumarakom Bird 2023-24 13.81 1.38
Sanctuary
Experience
22 Ladakh Leh Julley Leh 2023-24 23.17 2.32
Biodiversity Park (Rev May
2025)
23 Ladakh Kargil Exploring LOC & 2023-24 11.91 1.19
Hundarman village (Rev May
Exp 2025)
24 Lakshadweep Bangaram Development of 2024-25 81.18 8.12
Eco-Retreat,
Adventure, Beach
and Mice
Experience at
Bangaram
25 Madhya Chitrakoot Spiritual experience 2023-24 27.22 2.72
Pradesh at Chitrakoot
26 Madhya Gwalior Phoolbagh 2023-24 16.74 1.67
Pradesh Experience Zone
27 Madhya Datia Development of 2025-26 44.24 4.42
Pradesh Pitambara Peeth
Datia
28 Maharashtra Pune Shivshrusthi Theme 2024-25 76.22 7.62
Park
29 Meghalaya Sohra Waterfall Trails 2023-24 27.61 2.76
Experience (Rev Sep
2025)
30 Meghalaya Sohra Meghalayan Age 2023-24 32.45 3.25
Cave Experience31 Mizoram Champhai Eco Resort 2024-25 38.85 3.89
Experience at
Keilungliah, Zote,
Ngur&Mualbuhvum,
Champhai
32 Mizoram Champhai Heritage and 2024-25 33.87 3.39
Cultural Centre,
Champhai
33 Mizoram Aizawl Construction of 2025-26 99.71 9.96
Conference Centre
34 Nagaland Chumoukedima Adventure Tourism 2024-25 32.54 3.25
Experience at Jacob
Village,
Chumoukediema
35 Nagaland Chumoukedima Eco-Tourism Exp at 2024-25 7.87 0.79
Chumoukedima
viewpoint
36 Nagaland Chumoukedima Tribal Cultural 2023-24 21.57 2.16
Experience at
Midway Retreat
37 Puducherry Karaikal Karaikal beach and 2023-24 20.30 ---
waterfront
experience
38 Punjab Amritsar Border Tourism 2024-25 25.91 2.59
Experience at Attari
39 Punjab Kapurthala Eco Tourism 2023-24 20.06 ---
experience at Kanjli
wetland
40 Rajasthan Sikar Development works 2024-25 87.87 8.79
at Shri Khatu Shyam
Ji Temple (Sikar)
41 Rajasthan Bundi Spiritual Experience, 2023-24 21.65 2.17
Keshavraipatan42 Rajasthan Bikaner dist. Development Works 2025-26 22.58 2.26
at Shri Karni mata
mandir, Bikaner
43 Rajasthan MalaseriDungari Development of 2025-26 48.73 4.87
(District MalaseriDungri,
Bhilwara) Bhilwara District
44 Sikkim Gyalshing Eco-Wellness 2023-24 15.41 1.54
Experience at
Yuksom Cluster
45 Sikkim Gangtok Gangtok Cultural 2023-24 22.60 11.30
Village
46 Tamil Nadu Mamallapuram Immersive 2023-24 30.02 ---
experience at Shore (Rev May
Temple 2025)
47 Telangana Ananathagiri Eco tourism zone at 2023-24 38.00 3.80
Ananathgiri forest
48 Telangana Bhongir Bhongir Fort 2023-24 56.82 5.68
Experiential Zone
49 Tripura Agartala Tripura Heritage 2024-25 48.95 4.89
Village & Sangeet
Experience at
Agartala (Phase-1
&2)
50 Uttar Pradesh Naimisaranya Vedic- wellness 2023-24 17.80 ---
Experience (Rev
March
2025)
51 Uttar Pradesh Prayagraj Azad Park and 2023-24 14.52 1.45
Dekho Prayagraj (Rev
Trail Experince March
2025)
52 Uttarakhand Champawat Tea Garden 2023-24 19.89 1.99
Experience (Rev
March
2025)53 Uttarakhand Pithoragarh Rural Tourism 2023-24 17.86 1.79
Cluster Experience (Rev
at Gunji March
2025)
Total 2208.31 206.35
Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme during 2023-25
S. State Project Name Sanction Sanction Amount
No. Year Amount Released
(in ₹ (in ₹
Crore) Crore)
1 Andhra Pradesh Development of Pilgrimage Tourism 2024-25 25.33 6.74
Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple
Town
2 Bihar Development of Ambika Bhawani 2024-25 13.29 0
Temple, Saran
3 Goa Development of Bom Jesus Basilica 2024-25 16.46 4.68
4 Karnataka Development of Pilgrimage 2023-24 45.38 13.33
Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari
Devi Temple, Mysuru
5 Karnataka Development of Renuka Yallama 2024-25 18.37 0
Devi temple
6 Karnataka Development of Basic Amenities at 2024-25 22.25 6.3
Papnash Temple, Bidar dist.
7 Mizoram Development of Basic Amenities 2024-25 5.47 1.56
under PRASHAD scheme in
Vangchhia, Champhai District
8 Puducherry Development of Pilgrim Facilites & 2024-25 25.94 0
Tourist attractions for Sri
Dharbaranyeswara Temple
9 Tamil Nadu Development of 8 Navagraha 2024-25 40.94 0
Temples10 Telangana Development of Basic Amenities at 2024-25 4.22 0
goddess Renuka Yellama
Devasthanam
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
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