**Summary:**
The Ministry of Tourism is implementing "Tourism Diplomacy for Global Branding" as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative. This policy focuses on leveraging India's cultural heritage to drive economic and social development. Key strategies include infrastructure development, marketing and promotion, and skill capacity development. Infrastructure is being developed through schemes like Swadesh Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, PRASHAD, SASCI, and Assistance to Central Agencies, with an emphasis on sustainable and responsible destinations. The Ministry is promoting Indian tourism destinations and products through domestic and international events, travel fairs, and digital platforms. Skill development initiatives aim to enhance service standards through capacity building programs. A revamped Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) has been launched, featuring AI-powered personalization tools, integration with Online Travel Agents (OTAs) for bookings (flights, hotels, cabs, buses, and entry tickets to ASI monuments), and real-time information for travellers. The policy also promotes responsible tourism by empowering local communities. Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat provided this information in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2025. Contact information: Sunil Kumar Tiwari, tourism4pibatgmaildotcom. Release ID: 2159119.
Key Entities Referenced
StatesUTs: Refers to States and Union Territories of India.
Ministry of Tourism: The Indian government ministry responsible for promoting tourism and developing tourism infrastructure.
Viksit Bharat 2047: A vision for India's development by the year 2047.
Swadesh Darshan: A scheme for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive PRASHAD: A national mission to rejuvenate and augment pilgrimage and heritage sites.
Incredible India Digital Platform IIDP: A digital platform designed to promote tourism in India.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat: Union Minister for Tourism and Culture.
Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Parliament of India.
Ministry of Tourism
Tourism Diplomacy for Global Branding as a Part of
Viksit Bharat
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 4:24PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Tourism promotes India’s cultural heritage as a driver of economic and social development in
line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through infrastructure development, marketing and promotion, and
skill & capacity development initiatives. Infrastructure development is supported under schemes of Swadesh
Darshan, Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (including Challenge Based Destination Development), Pilgrimage
Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), Special Assistance to States/UTs for
Capital Investment (SASCI), and Assistance to Central Agencies, with emphasis on sustainable and
responsible destinations.
In addition to the infrastructure development, promotion of various tourism destinations, products and
experiences of India is undertaken in domestic and international markets through events, participation in
travel fairs and exhibitions, support to States/UTs for fairs and festivals, websites and social media platforms.
Skill development is undertaken through capacity building programmes to enhance service standards for
creating a pool of trained tourist facilitators. The Ministry is also promoting responsible tourism by
empowering and involving local communities at tourist destinations.
To strengthen India’s global tourism presence, Ministry has launched a revamped version of the Incredible
India Digital Platform (IIDP), designed as a comprehensive and user-friendly resource for travellers and
tourism stakeholders. The platform features an AI-powered tool that personalizes visitor experiences by
offering real-time weather updates, city exploration options, and essential travel services. It also integrates
with online travel agents (OTAs) to enable seamless booking of flights, hotels, cabs, buses, and entry tickets
to ASI monuments, making travel planning more convenient and efficient.
This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
****
Sunil Kumar Tiwari
tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com
(Release ID: 2159119)