Lok Sabha Question No. 3735 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Ease of Travel in India
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi, Shri Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †3735 ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## EASE OF TRAVEL IN INDIA

†3735. SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI: SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the list of schemes, policies, initiatives and reforms undertaken  by  the  Government  to  improve  ease  of  travel  for domestic and international tourists during the last five years;
- (b)   the  details  of  the  measures taken to enhance technology-enabled travel facilitation, including digital platforms, unified services and real-time  information  systems  aimed  at  reducing  travel-related friction;
- (c)   the  details  of  the  fund  allocated  for  such  schemes,  policies, initiatives  and  reforms  to  ease  travel  in  India  during  the  last  five years, State/UT-wise particularly in Andhra Pradesh;
- (d)   whether the Government has carried out any study/survey regarding the  impact  of  these  measures  on  ease  of  travel,  tourist  footfall, visitor  experience,  satisfaction  and  overall  regional  development; and
- (e)   if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM            (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

(a) to (e): Effective  and  adequate  connectivity  is  one  of  the  important aspects  for  developing  a  tourist  destination.  Ministry  of  Tourism  is working very closely with Ministry of Civil Aviation for improving the air connectivity to important tourist destinations 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 sharing the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) amount for the 53 tourism routes identified for this purpose.

India has a robust e-visa regime in place to enable lawful inward movement  of  foreigners  including  foreign  tourists,  professionals  and skilled workforce, business persons, students etc. Government of India has taken a number of initiatives over the last few years to liberalize, streamline and simplify visa regime with a view to facilitate the legitimate foreign  travelers  while  simultaneously  ramping  up  the  technological infrastructure to enhance internal security. One significant step taken to liberalize and simplify the Indian Visa regime, especially the tourist visa regime, is the introduction of the e-visa facility.  Processing of e-visa is totally  on  the  online  platform.  A  foreigner  can  apply  for  e-visa  from anywhere. Introduction of e-visa has helped in providing hassle-free entry to foreigners into India for legitimate purposes like tourism, business and medical purposes.

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. As a part of the Ministry's continuous endeavors 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  in  12  languages  including  10  international  languages  for domestic  and  foreign  tourists  to  provide  support  service  in  terms  of information relating to travel in India and to offer appropriate guidance to tourists in distress, while travelling within India. The  Ministry  has  not  carried  out  any  study/survey  regarding  the impact  of  these  measures  on  ease  of  travel,  tourist  footfall,  visitor experience, satisfaction and overall regional development.

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