India aims to be in world's top 10 tourism destinations
03-09-24
India's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced ambitious plans to position India among the world's top 10 tourism destinations in the next five years. Speaking at the International Economic Forum, Shekhawat underlined the rich cultural heritage and mystique that attract millions of tourists every year. Despite this, India's share in global tourist arrivals is currently modest at only 0.8%.
The minister highlighted the government's efforts to raise India's position in the global tourism market, where it currently ranks 39th out of 119 countries. According to Shekhawat, tourism contributes to 10.4 per cent of the global economy, while in India this figure is 7.9 per cent. However, the minister expressed confidence that India will surpass the global average, taking this figure to 10 per cent or more in the coming years.
One of the key strategies to achieve this goal is the development of tourist routes to regions that have so far not been very popular with foreign visitors. Currently, 65% of tourists are concentrated in only 9 of India's 28 states, plus the national district of Delhi. However, interest in lesser known regions is growing, which is seen as a positive sign for the future of the sector.