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Tourism in India is 4.6% of the country'sgross domestic product (GDP). Unlike other sectors, tourism is not a priority sector for theGovernment of India. TheWorld Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated₹13.2 lakh crore (US$160 billion) or 5.8% ofIndia's GDP and supported 32.1 million jobs in 2021. Even though, these numbers were lower than the pre-pandemic figures; the country's economy witnessed a significant growth in 2021 after the massive downturn during 2020. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 7.8% to₹33.8 lakh crore (US$400 billion) by 2031 (7.2% of GDP).[1] India has established itself as the 5th largest globaltravel healthcare destination with an estimated market size of around $9 billion in 2019, out of the total globaltravel healthcare industry of $44.8 billion(2019).[2][3] In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients travelled to India to seek medical treatment.[4]
According to theMinistry of Tourism, over 6.19 million and 1.52 million foreign tourists arrived in India in 2022 and 2021 respectively compared to 10.93 million in 2019, representing a -44% degrowth.[5][6] In 2022,Gujarat Tops India in Foreign Tourism with 20.17% Share in 2022. Gujarat rose as a global tourism hotspot continues with over 15.40 lakh tourists visiting in 2023.[7] In 2023, 2509.63 million Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) were recorded (provisionally) compared to 1731.01 Million DTVs in 2022.[8]
TheWorld Economic Forum'sTravel and Tourism Development Index 2021, which replaced its previousTravel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, ranks India 54th out of 117 countries overall.[9] The last edition of theTravel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, published in 2019, had ranked India 34th out of 140 countries overall. The report ranked the price competitiveness of India's tourism sector 13th out of 140 countries. It mentioned that India has quite good air transport infrastructure (ranked 33rd), particularly given the country's stage of development, and reasonable ground and port infrastructure (ranked 28th). The country also scored high on natural resources (ranked 14th), and cultural resources and business travel (ranked 8th).[10] TheWorld Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts from tourism during 2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th amongAsian and Pacific countries.[11]
TheMinistry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including variouscentral ministries/agencies,state governments, union territories and private sector representatives. Concerted efforts are being made to promote niche tourism products such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[12] The Ministry of Tourism maintains theIncredible India campaign focused on promoting tourism in India.
India requires citizens of most countries to hold a valid passport and apply for atravel visa at their local Indian embassy or consulate before their visit. Travellers can apply directly by mail or in person, or through their localtravel services company. In 2014, India implemented an online method for citizens of 156 countries to apply for ane-Tourist Visa.[13][14]
Nationals ofBhutan,Maldives, andNepal do not require a travel visa to enter India. Citizens of Afghanistan,Argentina, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Jamaica, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and Uruguay are not required to pay a fee when obtaining an Indian visa.[15][16]
During the pandemic year 2020, India had access to just 23 countries for travel, whereas now the Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 60 countries.[17]
As a measure to boost tourism,[19] theIndian Government implemented a new visa policy in November 2014, allowing tourists and business visitors to obtain a "visa on arrival" at 28 international airports, by acquiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online before arrival, without having to visit an Indian consulate or visa centre.[20] In April 2015, the "visa on arrival" scheme was renamed "e-Tourist Visa" (or "e-TV") to avoid confusion.[21]
The e-Tourist Visa facility requires a tourist to apply online on a secure Government of India website, at least four to thirty days before the date of travel. If approved, the visitor must print and carry the approved visa with their travel documents. The visa allows holders of an ETA to enter and stay anywhere in India for a period of ninety days except for citizens of US, UK, Japan and Canada. Citizens of these countries can stay for up to 180 days at a time. an ETA can be obtained twice in a single calendar year.[13]
India first introduced its "visa on arrival" facility on 27 November 2014, soon expanding it to citizens of 74 countries.[13] On 30 July 2015, the facility was extended to China, Macau and Hong Kong.[22] On 15 August 2015, the facility was further extended to citizens of 36 more countries.[23] The facility should eventually be expanded to about 180 countries.
As a result of the new visa policy, 56,477 tourists arrived on an e-Tourist Visa during October 2015, compared with 2,705 tourist arrivals during October 2014 (just before the facility was introduced), representing a 1987.9% increase.[24]
Statistics
Domestic tourists
During 2021, the number of Domestic Tourist Visits to the States/UTs was 67,76,32,981(677 million approx.) as compared to 61,02,16,157(610 million approx.) in 2020 registering a growth of 11.05%.[25]
Foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings
Riding elephants is a popular tourist activity in India. While the total number ofelephants used for tourism in India is relatively low compared to other Asian countries (350 in India in 2017 compared to almost 2,200 inThailand[32]), tourists will still have opportunities to ride elephants at historic sites and watch captive elephants perform in sports and shows[33] and religious rituals.[34]
In early 2019, several prominentresponsible tourism businesses includingResponsible Travel andIntrepid Travel stopped selling tours including elephant rides citing reasons of animal cruelty and abuse. Later in 2019, The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) updated its animal welfare guidelines, labelling elephant riding as unacceptable.[35]
^"Rank in Tourism" (Press release). Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 7 February 2014.Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved8 February 2014.
United States
Bangladesh
United Kingdom
Australia
Canada
Sri Lanka
Nepal
Germany
Singapore
Malaysia
