**Summary:**
According to provisional estimates from the National Account Statistics 2025, the tourism sector contributed 15.73 lakh crore to India's GDP in 2023-24, representing 5.22% of the total economy. The Ministry of Tourism is actively engaged in initiatives to stimulate the tourism economy and attract more foreign tourists. Key strategies include providing financial assistance to State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, and Central Agencies for tourism infrastructure development through schemes like Swadesh Darshan, National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), and Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development.
The Ministry promotes Indian tourism destinations and products domestically and internationally through campaigns and events such as the Dekho Apna Desh campaign, Chalo India campaign, International Tourism Mart, and Bharat Parv. Efforts to improve the overall quality and visitor experience involve capacity building and skill development programs like Capacity Building for Service Providers, Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF), 'Paryatan Mitra,' and 'Paryatan Didi'. The Ministry also promotes thematic tourism, including wellness, culinary, rural, and eco-tourism.
Recognizing the importance of cleanliness, the Ministry has formulated the Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) in coordination with the Department of Drinking Water Sanitation, conducting awareness programs and campaigns against plastic use through institutions like IITTM, Central IHMs, State IHMs, and FCIs. While tourist safety and security are primarily State Government responsibilities, the Ministry has advocated for the establishment of dedicated Tourism Police, with Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim and Uttar Pradesh having already deployed them in various forms.
Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. For further information, contact Sunil Kumar Tiwari at tourism4pib@gmail.com.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to the development and promotion of tourism in India.
National Account Statistics 2025: A report providing provisional estimates of India's economic indicators, including the contribution of the tourism sector to the GDP.
Swadesh Darshan: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism to develop theme-based tourist circuits in India.
National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A scheme by the Ministry of Tourism focusing on developing and beautifying pilgrimage destinations in India.
Dekho Apna Desh: A campaign by the Ministry of Tourism to encourage domestic tourism within India.
Chalo India: A campaign by the Ministry of Tourism aimed at the Indian diaspora to promote tourism to India.
Swachhta Action Plan SAP: A cleanliness initiative formulated by the Ministry of Tourism in coordination with the Department of Drinking Water Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture
Ministry of Tourism
Revenue from Domestic Tourists
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 4:16PM by PIB Delhi
As per the provisional estimates from the National Account Statistics 2025, the tourism sector contributed
₹15.73 lakh crore to India’s GDP in 2023–24, accounting for 5.22% of the total economy.
The Ministry of Tourism has undertaken several initiatives to boost the tourism economy and increase the
inflow of foreign tourists to the country. These include:
The Ministry of Tourism under the schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan’, ‘National Mission on
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Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and
‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ provides financial
assistance to State Governments/Union Territory Administrations/Central Agencies for the
development of tourism related infrastructure and facilities at various tourism destinations in the
country.
Ministry of Tourism through its various campaigns and events promotes various tourism
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destinations and products of India in domestic and international markets. Some of the initiatives
are Dekho Apna Desh campaign, Chalo India campaign, International Tourism Mart, Bharat Parv.
Enhance the overall quality and visitor experience through initiatives focused on capacity building,
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skill development such as ‘Capacity Building for Service Providers’, ‘Incredible India Tourist
Facilitator’ (IITF), 'Paryatan Mitra' and 'Paryatan Didi’.
Thematic tourism like wellness tourism, culinary tourism, rural, eco- tourism, etc. amongst other
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niche subjects are promoted so as to expand the scope of tourism into other sectors as well.
Considering the importance of cleanliness in and around tourist sites, the Ministry of Tourism has
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formulated the Swachhta Action Plan (SAP) in coordination with the Department of Drinking
Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Under this plan, the Ministry conducts
cleanliness awareness programmes—including symbolic drives and campaigns against plastic
use—through institutions such as IITTM, Central IHMs, State IHMs, and FCIs across the country.
These initiatives are aimed at creating awareness among tourists, students, and tourism
stakeholders.
While Safety and Security of tourists is essentially a State Government subject, the Ministry of
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Tourism has taken up the matter with all the State Governments/Union Territory (UT)
Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police. With the efforts of Ministry of
Tourism, the State Governments /UT Administrations of 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, in one form or
the other.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com(Release ID: 2153608)