• Incredible India ???
• National Tourism policy ??

Facts

• Tourism supported 357 million jobs in 2024, roughly one in ten globally
• Contributed 10% of global GDP
  • World Travel and Tourism Council

List of prominent places to visit in India

• • 573 wildlife sanctuaries
• ! 116 national parks - third highest in the world
• $ 43 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Stats about India

• & 1.4% foreign tourists
• % Global tourism spend in 2024, $1.6 trillion, expected to cross $2 trillion within next 5 years.
• ? Foreign exchange currently $28 billion

January 2025

• National Tourism Day 2025 celebrated every year on 25th January aims to promote the rich, vibrant and diverse culture of India in the tourism sector.
• This day is celebrated with the purpose of highlighting the importance of tourism and its role in shaping the Indian Economy, its reputation around the globe and cultural exchange
• This year, the theme for National Tourism Day is 'Tourism for Inclusive Growth'.
• This theme highlights the role of tourism in fostering economic growth while ensuring it benefits all segments of society by creating jobs and promoting sustainable practices

August 2025

No tariffs on tourism ¹

Slowed promotion

Incredible India campaign has slowed its overseas promotion in recent years, while the competitors have accelerated it.

Thailand spent $186 million, Malaysia $125 million, Japan $325 million last year.

The success of Kevadia of Gujarat

• In just 5 years, visitor number surged to 4.4 million annually with over 15,000 new jobs.

DMO and SPV

India can invest in Destination management organisation (DMO) and special purpose vehicles (SPV).

Should focus on connectivity, safety, accessibility, and hygiene.

Floor to Area Ratio

Major cities in Asia, including Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo allow Floor Area Ratio (FAR) ranging from 5 to 12 against 1-3 in Indian cities.

More approvals than floors

A hotel in India could require up to 98 approvals to build and operate, compared to 14 in Sri Lanka and 7 in Singapore.

Way forward

• Use social influencers, co branded campaigns with hospitality players and strategic partnerships with online travel agents and tour operators
• Time for a National Tourism Transformation Mission
• India has heritage, hospitality, human capital, but what it needs is ambition and execution.

References

Footnotes

1. TOI 13.08.2025 ↩