Lok Sabha Question No. 3886 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Post-Pandemic Recovery in Tourist Arrivals
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3886

## ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY IN TOURIST ARRIVALS

3886. DR. D RAVI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government is aware that Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) exceeded  1.65  billion  in  2023,  reflecting  strong  post-pandemic recovery, while Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) crossed 9.5 million in 2024 with further growth reported in 2025;
- (b)   the details of tourism infrastructure projects sanctioned and funded under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASHAD schemes during the years 2023 -25, including outlay and completion status, State/UT-wise;
- (c)   whether any impact assessment has been undertaken on employment generation in tourism, which supports over 8 crore direct and indirect jobs and contributes about 7.5 percent of country's GDP; and
- (d)   the details of the steps taken by the Government to enhance tourist safety, digital ticketing and unified portals, last-mile connectivity and adoption of sustainable and responsible tourism practices at major destinations?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM          (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a):   Domestic Tourist Visits (DTVs) reached 2.51 billion in 2023, marking a robust post-pandemic recovery. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in 2024 touched 9.95 million.
- (b):   The details are Annexed.
- (c): As per the estimates of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the total  number  of  tourism  jobs  (direct  and  indirect)  during  2023 -24  was 84.63 million (8.46 Crore). The total share of tourism in the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2023-24 (Provisional) is estimated at 5.22%.

(d): Safety  and  Security  of  tourists  is  essentially  a  State  subject. However, the Ministry of Tourism has been continuously taking up the matter with all the State Governments  and  Union  Territory (UT) Administrations for setting up of dedicated Tourism Police to strengthen on-ground safety mechanism for tourists. With the efforts of Ministry of Tourism,  the  State  Governments/UT's  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.

Ministry  of  Tourism  has  been  periodically  requesting  all  State Governments and Union Territories for availing the benefits of the 'Safe Tourism Destination for Women' under Nirbhaya fund which can be utilized for projects specifically designed to improve the safety and security of women tourists.

The Ministry of Tourism along with all stakeholders, including the Tourism Departments of all States and UTs, have adopted the 'Code of Conduct for Safe & Honourable Tourism' which is a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic rights like  dignity,  safety  and  freedom  from  exploitation  of  both  tourists  and local residents, in particular, women and children.

Further, The Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Adventure Tour  Operators  Association  of  India  has  formulated  Model  Adventure Safety  Guidelines  with  an  aim  to  establish  a  comprehensive  and standardized framework to ensure safety in the Adventure Tourism sector across  India.  These  guidelines  have  been  circulated  to  all  States  and Union  Territories  for  adoption  and  formulation  /  updation  of  safety protocols.

Effective and adequate connectivity is one of the important aspects for developing a tourist destination. Ministry of Tourism is working closely with  Ministry  of  Civil  Aviation  for  improving  the  air  connectivity  to important tourist destination and to lesser known/new destinations with high potential. It has coordinated with Ministry of Civil Aviation under their Regional Connectivity Scheme- Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN) and  is  sharing  the  Viability  Gap  Funding  (VGF)  amount  for  53  tourism routes identified for this purpose.

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 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 a payment gateway. The Ministry of Tourism has launched a Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism  Criteria  for  India  (STCI)  for  three  major  segments  of  tourism industry, namely Tour Operators, Accommodation, and Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes and Rivers sectors. The criterion has been adopted by the stakeholders.

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ANNEXURE

STATEMENT  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.3886  ANSWERED  ON  16.03.2026  REGARDING  POSTPANDEMIC RECOVERY IN TOURIST ARRIVALS RAISED BY  DR. D  RAVI KUMAR

List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 as on 15.01.2026

|   S. No. | State             | Destination       | Name of the Experience                                                | Sanction Year             |   Sanction ed Cost (in ₹ Crore) |   Amount Authorised (in ₹ Crore) |
|----------|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh    | Bapatala          | Development of Suryalanka Beach Experience                            | 2024-25                   |                           97.52 |                             9.75 |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh    | Araku- Lambasingi | Borra Cave Experience at Araku                                        | 2023-24                   |                           29.88 |                             2.99 |
|        3 | Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka           | Mechuka Cultural Haat                                                 | 2023-24                   |                           18.48 |                             1.85 |
|        4 | Arunachal Pradesh | Mechuka           | Mechuka Adventure Park                                                | 2023-24                   |                           12.75 |                             1.28 |
|        5 | Arunachal Pradesh | Nacho             | Unlock Nacho Expedition                                               | 2023-24                   |                           14.02 |                             1.4  |
|        6 | Assam             | Kokrajhar         | Kokrajhar Wetland Experience                                          | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025)  |                           26.68 |                             2.67 |
|        7 | Assam             | Jorhat            | Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate                                      | 2023- 24 (Rev March 2025) |                           23.88 |                             2.39 |
|        8 | Bihar             | Bodh Gaya         | Development of the Buddhist Meditation & Experience Centre, Bodh Gaya | 2024-25                   |                          165.44 |                            16.54 |
|        9 | Chhattisgarh      | Kawardha          | Bhoramdeo Corridor                                                    | 2024-25                   |                          145.99 |                            14.6  |

|    |                  |            | Development, Kawardha                                                   |                        |        |      |
|----|------------------|------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|--------|------|
| 10 | DNHDD            | Daman      | Daman Convention Centre                                                 | 2024-25                | 147.13 | ---  |
| 11 | Goa              | Porvorim   | Porvorim Creek Experience                                               | 2024-25                |  24.07 | 2.41 |
| 12 | Goa              | Colva      | Colva Beach Experience                                                  | 2024-25                |  19.89 | 1.99 |
| 13 | Haryana          | Panchkula  | Development of Adventure Tourism Hub at Tikkar Taal and Adventure Park  | 2024-25                |  26.68 | 2.67 |
| 14 | Haryana          | Panchkula  | Rejuvenation of Yadavindra Garden                                       | 2024-25                |  65.82 | 6.58 |
| 15 | Himachal Pradesh | Chintpurni | Development of Maa Chintpurni Devi Temple, Una                          | 2025-26                |  56.26 | 5.63 |
| 16 | Karnataka        | Mysuru     | Ecological Experience Zone                                              | 2023-24                |  18.48 | 1.85 |
| 17 | Karnataka        | Mysuru     | Tonga ride Heritage experience zone                                     | 2023-24 (Rev Jan 2025) |   2.72 | 0.27 |
| 18 | Karnataka        | Hampi      | Setting up of 'Traveller nooks'                                         | 2023-24 (Rev Jan 2025) |  25.64 | 2.56 |
| 19 | Kerala           | Alappuzha  | Alappuzha: A Global Water Wonderland                                    | 2024-25 (Rev Jan 2025) |  93.18 | 9.32 |
| 20 | Kerala           | Malampuzha | Enhancement of Tourist Experience at Malampuzha Garden and Leisure Park | 2024-25                |  75.87 | 7.59 |

|   21 | Kerala         | Kumarakom   | Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience                                          | 2023-24                |   13.81 |   1.38 |
|------|----------------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|---------|--------|
|   22 | Ladakh         | Leh         | Julley Leh Biodiversity Park                                                 | 2023-24 (Rev May 2025) |   23.17 |   2.32 |
|   23 | Ladakh         | Kargil      | Exploring LOC & Hundarman village Exp                                        | 2023-24 (Rev May 2025) |   11.91 |   1.19 |
|   24 | Lakshadwe ep   | Bangaram    | Development of Eco-Retreat, Adventure, Beach and Mice Experience at Bangaram | 2024-25                |   81.18 |   8.12 |
|   25 | Madhya Pradesh | Chitrakoot  | Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot                                           | 2023-24                |   27.22 |   2.72 |
|   26 | Madhya Pradesh | Gwalior     | Phoolbagh Experience Zone                                                    | 2023-24                |   16.74 |   1.67 |
|   27 | Madhya Pradesh | Datia       | Development of Pitambara Peeth Datia                                         | 2025-26                |   44.24 |   4.42 |
|   28 | Maharashtra    | Pune        | Shivshrusthi Theme Park                                                      | 2024-25                |   76.22 |   7.62 |
|   29 | Meghalaya      | Sohra       | Waterfall Trails Experience                                                  | 2023-24 (Rev Sep 2025) |   27.61 |   2.76 |
|   30 | Meghalaya      | Sohra       | Meghalayan Age Cave Experience                                               | 2023-24                |   32.45 |   3.25 |
|   31 | Mizoram        | Champhai    | Eco Resort Experience at Keilungliah, Zote, Ngur&Mualbuhv um, Champhai       | 2024-25                |   38.85 |   3.89 |

|   32 | Mizoram    | Champhai                             | Heritage and Cultural Centre, Champhai                        | 2024-25   |   33.87 | 3.39   |
|------|------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-----------|---------|--------|
|   33 | Mizoram    | Aizawl                               | Construction of Conference Centre                             | 2025-26   |   99.71 | 9.96   |
|   34 | Nagaland   | Chumoukedi ma                        | Adventure Tourism Experience at Jacob Village, Chumoukediem a | 2024-25   |   32.54 | 3.25   |
|   35 | Nagaland   | Chumoukedi ma                        | Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedima viewpoint                     | 2024-25   |    7.87 | 0.79   |
|   36 | Nagaland   | Chumoukedi ma                        | Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat                  | 2023-24   |   21.57 | 2.16   |
|   37 | Puducherry | Karaikal                             | Karaikal beach and waterfront experience                      | 2023-24   |   20.3  | ---    |
|   38 | Punjab     | Amritsar                             | Border Tourism Experience at Attari                           | 2024-25   |   25.91 | 2.59   |
|   39 | Punjab     | Kapurthala                           | Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland                      | 2023-24   |   20.06 | ---    |
|   40 | Rajasthan  | Sikar                                | Development works at Shri Khatu Shyam Ji Temple (Sikar)       | 2024-25   |   87.87 | 8.79   |
|   41 | Rajasthan  | Bundi                                | Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan                          | 2023-24   |   21.65 | 2.17   |
|   42 | Rajasthan  | Bikaner dist.                        | Development Works at Shri Karni mata mandir, Bikaner          | 2025-26   |   22.58 | 2.26   |
|   43 | Rajasthan  | MalaseriDun gari (District Bhilwara) | Development of MalaseriDungri,                                | 2025-26   |   48.73 | 4.87   |

|       |               |              | Bhilwara District                                                      |                          |         |        |
|-------|---------------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------|---------|--------|
| 44    | Sikkim        | Gyalshing    | Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster                              | 2023-24                  |   15.41 | 1.54   |
| 45    | Sikkim        | Gangtok      | Gangtok Cultural Village                                               | 2023-24                  |   22.6  | 11.30  |
| 46    | Tamil Nadu    | Mamallapuram | Immersive experience at Shore Temple                                   | 2023-24 (Rev May 2025)   |   30.02 | ---    |
| 47    | Telangana     | Ananathagiri | Eco tourism zone at Ananathgiri forest                                 | 2023-24                  |   38    | 3.80   |
| 48    | Telangana     | Bhongir      | Bhongir Fort Experiential Zone                                         | 2023-24                  |   56.82 | 5.68   |
| 49    | Tripura       | Agartala     | Tripura Heritage Village & Sangeet Experience at Agartala (Phase-1 &2) | 2024-25                  |   48.95 | 4.89   |
| 50    | Uttar Pradesh | Naimisaranya | Vedic- wellness Experience                                             | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |   17.8  | ---    |
| 51    | Uttar Pradesh | Prayagraj    | Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Experince                          | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |   14.52 | 1.45   |
| 52    | Uttarakhand   | Champawat    | Tea Garden Experience                                                  | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |   19.89 | 1.99   |
| 53    | Uttarakhand   | Pithoragarh  | Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji                              | 2023-24 (Rev March 2025) |   17.86 | 1.79   |
| Total | Total         | Total        | Total                                                                  | Total                    | 2208.31 | 206.35 |

## Projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme during 2023-25

|   S. No. | State                                                                                    | Project Name                                                                           | Sanction Year   |   Sanction Amount (in ₹ Crore) |   Amount Released (in ₹ Crore) |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh Development of Pilgrimage Tourism Infrastructure in Annavaram Temple Town | 2024-25                                                                                |                 |                          25.33 |                           6.74 |
|        2 | Bihar                                                                                    | Development of Ambika Bhawani Temple, Saran                                            | 2024-25         |                          13.29 |                           0    |
|        3 | Goa                                                                                      | Development of Bom Jesus Basilica                                                      | 2024-25         |                          16.46 |                           4.68 |
|        4 | Karnataka                                                                                | Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Sri Chamundeshwari Devi Temple, Mysuru          | 2023-24         |                          45.38 |                          13.33 |
|        5 | Karnataka                                                                                | Development of Renuka Yallama Devi temple                                              | 2024-25         |                          18.37 |                           0    |
|        6 | Karnataka                                                                                | Development of Basic Amenities at Papnash Temple, Bidar dist.                          | 2024-25         |                          22.25 |                           6.3  |
|        7 | Mizoram                                                                                  | Development of Basic Amenities under PRASHAD scheme in Vangchhia, Champhai District    | 2024-25         |                           5.47 |                           1.56 |
|        8 | Puducherry                                                                               | Development of Pilgrim Facilites & Tourist attractions for Sri Dharbaranyeswara Temple | 2024-25         |                          25.94 |                           0    |
|        9 | Tamil Nadu                                                                               | Development of 8 Navagraha Temples                                                     | 2024-25         |                          40.94 |                           0    |
|       10 | Telangana                                                                                | Development of Basic Amenities at goddess Renuka Yellama Devasthanam                   | 2024-25         |                           4.22 |                           0    |

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