Lok Sabha Question No. 2369 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-15
Subject: National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI+)
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Dulu Mahato, Shri Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Smt. Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Shri Jagdambika Pal, Smt. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, Shri Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2369

## ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025

NATIONAL INTEGRATED DATABASE OF HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (NIDHI+)

2369. SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SHRI DULU MAHATO:

SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI:

SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the measures taken to strengthen the digital initiatives such  as National Integrated Database  of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI+) and the multilingual tourist helpline for improving service delivery and transparency;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  States/UT  Governments  to deploy  tourist  police  and  improve  safety,  especially  for  women tourists and the current status thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  guidance  to  States regarding granting of 'industry status' to tourism and hospitality sector and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the States thereto; and
- (d) the manner  in  which  reforms  such  as  e-Visa  expansion  and GST  rationalisation have influenced tourist flows and competitiveness relative to other destinations?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a): 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  conveying/  granting  approvals  for classification of accommodation units and recognition of Tourism Service

Providers. Applications can be filed at the portal of National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI+), i.e. nidhi.tourism.gov.in.  This online process has also been integrated with payment gateway.

As a part of the Ministry's continuous endeavours to make travel for tourists safe and secure, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a 24x7 MultiLingual Tourist Helpline on the toll free number 1800111363 or on a short code  1363,  which  is  now  available  in  12  Languages  including  10 international  languages  for  domestic  and  foreign  tourists  to  provide support service in term of information relating to Travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India.

- (b): Safety  and  Security  of  tourists  is  under  the  purview  of  State Governments/UT Administrations. However, the Ministry of Tourism has continuously taken up the matter with the States/UTs for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists.  The  State  Governments  /UT  Administrations  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 in some form or the other.

State  Governments  and  Union  Territories  have  the  provision  for availing the benefits of the 'Safe Tourism Destinations for Women' under Nirbhaya fund for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.

- (c): Yes.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  launched  a  Handbook  on  Industry Status to the Tourism and Hospitality Sector in September, 2024. This has been circulated to the State Governments/UT Administrations for adapting into their industry/tourism policy.
- (d): e-Visa  scheme is  now available to  the nationals of 172 countries valid for entry through 32 designated airports, 6 designated seaports and 1 land port. The record of Tourist Arrivals for these 172 countries from 2019-2024 is placed at ANNEXURE.

The government introduced a simplified GST structure with significant rate reductions across key sectors of trade and commerce, including the hospitality sector, with effect from 22.09.2025.  The implemented Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms are set to transform India's tourism sector, making travel more affordable and accessible for both domestic and international tourists.

## The highlights of the GST reforms affecting the tourism and hospitality sector are listed as follows:

(i) The  GST  on  hotel  rooms  priced  below  ₹7,500  per  day  has  been reduced from 12% to 5% (without ITC). (ii) GST on buses with a seating capacity of over 10 persons has been cut from 28% to 18%. (iii)  GST  on  art  and  cultural  goods  has  been  lowered  from  12%  to  5%, providing direct support to artisans and sculptors. (iv)  Consumer  durables,  Food  and  related  items:  Most  of  the  food  and related  consumables are now having reduced GST at 5 percent or some have nil GST. Similarly, many items used in hospitality such as TVs,  refrigerators,  ACs  etc.  are  having  reduced  GST  positively impacting  the  sector  with  reduced  cost  of  operations  and  capital expenditure

- ********

ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2369 ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025 REGARDING NATIONAL INTEGRATED DATABASE OF HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY (NIDHI+) RAISED BY  SMT.  MALA  RAJYA  LAXMI  SHAH,  SHRI  DULU  MAHATO,  SHRI VISHWESHWAR HEGDE KAGERI, SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL, DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY, SMT. KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT AND SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL

| Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   | Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   |   Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers) | Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   | Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   | Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   | Nationality wise FTAs during 2019-2024 for 172 countries with e-Visa facility (in Numbers)   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Nationality                                                                                  | 2019                                                                                         |                                                                                         2020 | 2021                                                                                         | 2022                                                                                         | 2023                                                                                         | 2024                                                                                         |
| Albania                                                                                      | 624                                                                                          |                                                                                          198 | 68                                                                                           | 401                                                                                          | 659                                                                                          | 729                                                                                          |
| Andorra                                                                                      | 189                                                                                          |                                                                                           61 | 18                                                                                           | 105                                                                                          | 169                                                                                          | 168                                                                                          |
| Angola                                                                                       | 1232                                                                                         |                                                                                          211 | 161                                                                                          | 728                                                                                          | 1205                                                                                         | 1202                                                                                         |
| Anguilla                                                                                     | 0                                                                                            |                                                                                            0 |                                                                                              | 0                                                                                            | 5                                                                                            | 4                                                                                            |
| Antigua & Barbuda                                                                            | 277                                                                                          |                                                                                           99 | 77                                                                                           | 249                                                                                          | 403                                                                                          | 427                                                                                          |
| Argentina                                                                                    | 12844                                                                                        |                                                                                         4294 | 530                                                                                          | 4720                                                                                         | 9985                                                                                         | 9638                                                                                         |
| Armenia                                                                                      | 1307                                                                                         |                                                                                          378 | 229                                                                                          | 1119                                                                                         | 1808                                                                                         | 2003                                                                                         |
| Aruba                                                                                        | 0                                                                                            |                                                                                            0 |                                                                                              | 0                                                                                            | 3                                                                                            | 4                                                                                            |
| Australia                                                                                    | 367241                                                                                       |                                                                                        86758 | 33864                                                                                        | 376898                                                                                       | 456167                                                                                       | 518205                                                                                       |
| Austria                                                                                      | 32332                                                                                        |                                                                                         9182 | 4411                                                                                         | 18375                                                                                        | 27420                                                                                        | 30393                                                                                        |
| Azerbaijan                                                                                   | 1754                                                                                         |                                                                                          469 | 189                                                                                          | 1224                                                                                         | 2769                                                                                         | 4809                                                                                         |
| Bahamas                                                                                      | 169                                                                                          |                                                                                           40 | 16                                                                                           | 117                                                                                          | 172                                                                                          | 195                                                                                          |
| Bangladesh                                                                                   | 257772 7                                                                                     |                                                                                       549273 | 240554                                                                                       | 127755 7                                                                                     | 211982 6                                                                                     | 175016 5                                                                                     |
| Barbados                                                                                     | 489                                                                                          |                                                                                          216 | 73                                                                                           | 506                                                                                          | 667                                                                                          | 730                                                                                          |
| Belarus                                                                                      | 6978                                                                                         |                                                                                         3775 | 607                                                                                          | 3599                                                                                         | 7366                                                                                         | 9126                                                                                         |
| Belgium                                                                                      | 39263                                                                                        |                                                                                        11022 | 7382                                                                                         | 24172                                                                                        | 36158                                                                                        | 39813                                                                                        |
| Belize                                                                                       | 436                                                                                          |                                                                                           99 | 114                                                                                          | 397                                                                                          | 442                                                                                          | 515                                                                                          |
| Benin                                                                                        | 485                                                                                          |                                                                                           80 | 37                                                                                           | 253                                                                                          | 512                                                                                          | 436                                                                                          |
| Bolivia                                                                                      | 793                                                                                          |                                                                                          183 | 76                                                                                           | 523                                                                                          | 678                                                                                          | 684                                                                                          |
| Bosnia & Herzg.                                                                              | 1179                                                                                         |                                                                                          295 | 94                                                                                           | 352                                                                                          | 815                                                                                          | 943                                                                                          |
| Botswana                                                                                     | 1400                                                                                         |                                                                                          253 | 252                                                                                          | 898                                                                                          | 1179                                                                                         | 1275                                                                                         |
| Brazil                                                                                       | 25422                                                                                        |                                                                                         8092 | 2055                                                                                         | 12301                                                                                        | 21977                                                                                        | 24782                                                                                        |
| Brunei                                                                                       | 578                                                                                          |                                                                                          106 | 21                                                                                           | 186                                                                                          | 443                                                                                          | 863                                                                                          |
| Bulgaria                                                                                     | 5735                                                                                         |                                                                                         1655 | 590                                                                                          | 2485                                                                                         | 4936                                                                                         | 5938                                                                                         |
| Burundi                                                                                      | 419                                                                                          |                                                                                           86 | 78                                                                                           | 275                                                                                          | 465                                                                                          | 341                                                                                          |

| Cabo Verde        | 63     | 15     | 7     |     44 |     40 |     39 |
|-------------------|--------|--------|-------|--------|--------|--------|
| Cambodia          | 6271   | 2799   | 578   |   2938 |   8167 |  11326 |
| Cameroon          | 3080   | 761    | 764   |   2344 |   3996 |   4322 |
| Canada            | 351859 | 122868 | 80437 | 289259 | 385938 | 476273 |
| Cayman Islands    | 3      | 0      | 1     |     39 |     28 |     20 |
| Chile             | 6446   | 1861   | 329   |   2424 |   4742 |   5442 |
| Colombia          | 8396   | 1928   | 470   |   4451 |   6813 |   7639 |
| Comoros           | 1481   | 265    | 106   |    747 |   1280 |   1517 |
| Cook Islands      |        |        |       |      2 |      0 |      2 |
| Costa Rica        | 2004   | 519    | 104   |    881 |   1565 |   1784 |
| Cote D'lvoire     | 2360   | 573    | 702   |   1358 |   1573 |   1660 |
| Croatia           | 3889   | 1249   | 623   |   2049 |   3670 |   4132 |
| Cuba              | 560    | 147    | 130   |    233 |    434 |    382 |
| Cyprus            | 2093   | 524    | 334   |   1194 |   1816 |   2274 |
| Czech Republic    | 13290  | 3607   | 983   |   6287 |  11656 |  13890 |
| Denmark           | 26492  | 8252   | 2025  |  12331 |  20200 |  22456 |
| Djibouti          | 1059   | 240    | 218   |    650 |    922 |   1008 |
| Dominica          | 615    | 159    | 133   |    518 |    856 |    843 |
| Dominican Rep.    | 514    | 100    | 41    |    320 |    502 |    501 |
| Ecuador           | 2086   | 438    | 77    |    793 |   1494 |   1484 |
| El Salvador       | 637    | 170    | 35    |    265 |    486 |    455 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 39     | 11     | 37    |     78 |    115 |     92 |
| Eritrea           | 470    | 107    | 71    |    266 |    355 |    407 |
| Estonia           | 3181   | 1004   | 162   |   1295 |   2789 |   2965 |
| Eswatini          | 440    | 158    | 172   |    413 |    622 |    740 |
| Fiji              | 4978   | 1423   | 339   |   2945 |   4826 |   5229 |
| Finland           | 18945  | 4310   | 1329  |   8781 |  12241 |  12764 |
| France            | 247238 | 74243  | 30374 | 120282 | 188981 | 206855 |
| Gabon             | 208    | 72     | 31    |    150 |    267 |    158 |
| Gambia            | 585    | 81     | 283   |    414 |    636 |    700 |
| Georgia           | 1312   | 521    | 224   |   1112 |   2085 |   2757 |
| Germany           | 264973 | 72558  | 33772 | 141425 | 223575 | 256348 |
| Ghana             | 4637   | 987    | 879   |   3293 |   5781 |   6049 |
| Gibraltar         | 4      | 0      |       |      0 |      0 |     16 |
| Greece            | 10317  | 2854   | 1144  |   4988 |   9206 |  10596 |
| Grenada           | 252    | 83     | 116   |    458 |    792 |    972 |
| Guatemala         | 853    | 208    | 57    |    369 |    750 |    823 |
| Guernsey          | 0      | 0      |       |      0 |      6 |     20 |
| Guinea            | 925    | 206    | 202   |    534 |    923 |   1256 |
| Guyana            | 586    | 150    | 87    |    416 |    591 |    790 |

| Haiti            |    146 |    23 | 7     |     50 |     67 |     63 |
|------------------|--------|-------|-------|--------|--------|--------|
| Honduras         |    681 |   180 | 61    |    210 |    390 |    568 |
| Hungary          |   9788 |  2964 | 653   |   4298 |   8156 |   9040 |
| Iceland          |   1340 |   368 | 123   |    642 |   1063 |    988 |
| Indonesia        |  50177 | 11795 | 2105  |  13961 |  32677 |  39227 |
| Ireland          |  41183 |  9708 | 7600  |  30959 |  39166 |  46494 |
| Isle Of Man      |      0 |     0 |       |      0 |      3 |     27 |
| Israel           |  73137 | 17444 | 4601  |  36418 |  44996 |  47465 |
| Italy            | 128572 | 31186 | 13659 |  62226 | 116031 | 142239 |
| Jamaica          |   1046 |   282 | 207   |    700 |    984 |   1021 |
| Japan            | 238903 | 48191 | 15358 |  64196 | 150521 | 194875 |
| Jersey           |      1 |     0 | 2     |      0 |      0 |     35 |
| Jordan           |   7014 |  1702 | 688   |   3812 |   6354 |   5878 |
| Kazakhstan       |  15709 |  5918 | 2378  |   9546 |  22342 |  27006 |
| Kenya            |  48639 | 12779 | 13373 |  35743 |  49574 |  52294 |
| Kiribati         |    142 |     8 |       |    129 |    175 |    162 |
| Korea (ROK)      | 149445 | 32302 | 13330 |  49423 |  97726 | 112924 |
| Kyrgyzstan       |   4247 |  1511 | 789   |   2304 |   5099 |   5751 |
| Laos             |   1818 |   470 | 22    |    776 |   1860 |   2997 |
| Latvia           |   3552 |  1035 | 327   |   1794 |   3164 |   3649 |
| Lesotho          |    668 |   153 | 257   |    642 |    782 |    750 |
| Liberia          |    745 |   215 | 440   |   1045 |   1489 |   1699 |
| Liechtenstein    |    125 |    35 | 11    |     72 |    128 |    132 |
| Lithuania        |   5411 |  1617 | 779   |   2830 |   5611 |   6305 |
| Luxembourg       |   1336 |   381 | 211   |   1006 |   1699 |   2167 |
| North Macedonia  |    915 |   223 | 127   |    423 |    676 |    662 |
| Madagascar       |   2817 |   830 | 213   |   1647 |   3038 |   3578 |
| Malawi           |   2526 |   683 | 950   |   2057 |   2429 |   2441 |
| Malaysia         | 334579 | 69897 | 6628  | 126192 | 262458 | 307526 |
| Mali             |    857 |   225 | 235   |    569 |    749 |    869 |
| Malta            |   1774 |   513 | 278   |   1136 |   1874 |   2134 |
| Marshall Islands |      8 |     7 | 3     |      2 |      8 |     13 |
| Mauritius        |  46814 | 11410 | 2118  |  24743 |  40442 |  48683 |
| Mexico           |  20766 |  4580 | 859   |   8915 |  16095 |  18408 |
| Micronesia       |     11 |     7 |       |      6 |     15 |     47 |
| Monaco           |     71 |    23 | 2     |     24 |     63 |     43 |
| Mongolia         |   2943 |   621 | 389   |   2810 |   3950 |   3911 |
| Montenegro       |    421 |   123 | 85    |    189 |    393 |    524 |
| Montserrat       |      0 |     2 |       |      0 |      0 |      0 |

| Morocco             | 8294   |   1876 | 592   |   3373 |   6837 |   9831 |
|---------------------|--------|--------|-------|--------|--------|--------|
| Mozambique          | 4398   |   1372 | 1016  |   3544 |   4772 |   5741 |
| Myanmar             | 86842  |  35291 | 3013  |  15963 |  51235 |  47588 |
| Namibia             | 739    |    137 | 188   |    471 |    760 |    737 |
| Nauru               | 70     |     22 |       |     94 |     88 |    144 |
| Netherlands         | 80313  |  26258 | 15631 |  55019 |  82047 |  93579 |
| New Zealand         | 65551  |  16653 | 4497  |  54974 |  72458 |  81115 |
| Nicaragua           | 204    |     32 | 2     |     95 |    159 |    174 |
| Niger               | 850    |    198 | 241   |    594 |    687 |    709 |
| Niue Island         |        |      0 |       |      0 |      0 |      0 |
| Norway              | 21898  |   6224 | 2790  |  13449 |  20057 |  21682 |
| Oman                | 74564  |  15430 | 10174 |  56474 |  71980 |  66703 |
| Palau               | 11     |      2 | 2     |     22 |     12 |      8 |
| Palestine           | 1526   |    369 | 208   |    883 |    899 |    870 |
| Panama              | 1142   |    463 | 355   |   1030 |   1362 |   1586 |
| Papua New Guinea    | 326    |     84 | 25    |    102 |    403 |    685 |
| Paraguay            | 393    |    112 | 33    |    191 |    328 |    322 |
| Peru                | 3792   |    875 | 295   |   1967 |   3356 |   3685 |
| Philippines         | 56393  |  16052 | 6927  |  28379 |  50064 |  57542 |
| Poland              | 33687  |  12161 | 2461  |  18025 |  35457 |  43316 |
| Portugal            | 74743  |  31005 | 32064 |  69522 |  81916 |  92582 |
| Qatar               | 6863   |   1008 | 540   |   2521 |   3711 |   3673 |
| Rep. Moldova        | 963    |    312 | 98    |    443 |    729 |    905 |
| Romania             | 14064  |   3521 | 1360  |   6744 |  13003 |  15087 |
| Russian Federation  | 251319 | 102166 | 17567 |  97911 | 164125 | 160188 |
| Rwanda              | 4165   |   1093 | 1489  |   2551 |   2584 |   1890 |
| St. Kitts & Nevis   | 400    |     92 | 108   |    588 |    969 |   1188 |
| Saint Lucia         | 111    |     29 | 41    |    170 |    240 |    264 |
| St. Vincent & Gren. | 49     |      7 | 6     |     45 |     54 |     59 |
| Samoa               | 145    |     17 | 1     |     15 |     50 |    149 |
| San Marino          | 36     |      6 |       |     20 |     37 |     57 |
| Saudi Arabia        | 48526  |  10423 | 1088  |  18513 |  39127 |  46167 |
| Senegal             | 1471   |    374 | 162   |    789 |   1613 |   2008 |
| Serbia              | 4885   |   1235 | 548   |   2075 |   4071 |   4820 |
| Seychelles          | 4233   |   1147 | 1007  |   2720 |   3681 |   3733 |
| Sierra Leone        | 784    |    213 | 241   |    625 |    751 |    731 |
| Singapore           | 190089 |  33747 | 13407 | 132668 | 183772 | 205383 |

| Slovakia                 | 6216     |    1483 | 440     | 2974     | 5596     | 6644     |
|--------------------------|----------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|
| Slovenia                 | 3710     |    1112 | 359     | 1822     | 3559     | 4056     |
| Solomon Islands          | 14       |       1 |         | 14       | 47       | 50       |
| South Africa             | 57274    |   12561 | 3820    | 25860    | 41969    | 44168    |
| Spain                    | 83322    |   16335 | 6982    | 39658    | 73412    | 81959    |
| Sri Lanka                | 330861   |   68646 | 25989   | 183459   | 280327   | 281827   |
| Suriname                 | 667      |     144 | 18      | 209      | 495      | 568      |
| Sweden                   | 42318    |   11992 | 5579    | 22372    | 36007    | 41246    |
| Switzerland              | 46826    |   12675 | 4198    | 25255    | 41004    | 44122    |
| Taiwan (Pr. Of China)    | 48195    |    8969 | 891     | 7463     | 27229    | 42598    |
| Tajikistan               | 4123     |    1709 | 1659    | 3461     | 5594     | 6413     |
| Tanzania                 | 23774    |    6501 | 6480    | 18581    | 26790    | 30730    |
| Thailand                 | 169956   |   52626 | 4668    | 54367    | 116060   | 140489   |
| Timor-Leste              | 201      |      11 | 1       | 118      | 210      | 178      |
| Togo                     | 358      |      89 | 62      | 276      | 389      | 503      |
| Tonga                    | 139      |      24 | 1       | 44       | 101      | 134      |
| Trinidad & Tobago        | 2059     |     496 | 163     | 1067     | 1790     | 2238     |
| Turks & Caicos           | 0        |       0 | 2       | 8        | 4        | 4        |
| Tuvalu                   | 223      |      48 | 30      | 57       | 88       | 159      |
| Uganda                   | 8063     |    2098 | 2725    | 6016     | 8741     | 11711    |
| Ukraine                  | 29468    |   10619 | 5197    | 7304     | 11502    | 14875    |
| United Arab Emirates     | 55415    |    7387 | 3927    | 43702    | 59480    | 66699    |
| United Kingdom           | 100029 2 |  291874 | 164143  | 641051   | 920591   | 102258 7 |
| United States of America | 151203 2 |  394092 | 429860  | 140339 9 | 169149 8 | 180458 6 |
| Uruguay                  | 2477     |     535 | 45      | 781      | 2434     | 1524     |
| Uzbekistan               | 25339    |    7420 | 5621    | 12210    | 27912    | 34247    |
| Vanuatu                  | 63       |      34 | 103     | 368      | 493      | 595      |
| Vatican City             | 32       |       7 | 17      | 27       | 47       | 50       |
| Venezuela                | 1583     |     421 | 184     | 731      | 1211     | 1403     |
| Vietnam                  | 33636    |    8828 | 1104    | 37232    | 57284    | 54091    |
| Zambia                   | 4864     |    1332 | 1544    | 3694     | 4492     | 4762     |
| Zimbabwe                 | 3877     |     914 | 1097    | 3510     | 5562     | 6848     |
| Total                    | 10930355 | 2744766 | 1527114 | 6437467  | 9520928  | 9289934  |

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