Indian Economy News

Tourism Ministry Sanctions 117 Infrastructure Projects Worth US$ 612 million

The Ministry of Tourism has strengthened India's tourism ecosystem by sanctioning 117 tourism infrastructure projects worth Rs. 5,756.62 crore (US$ 612 million) over the last two years to enhance connectivity, visitor amenities and destination development across the country. The projects have been approved under flagship initiatives including Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Challenge Based Destination Development, Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD), Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA JUGA). In addition, financial assistance has been extended to states under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale initiative. These investments are expected to strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve visitor experiences and support balanced regional tourism development.

The Ministry is also accelerating tourism promotion through the Incredible India Digital Platform, a multilingual portal and mobile application offering curated travel content, destination information and integrated booking services for flights, hotels, transport and Archaeological Survey of India monument tickets. Complementing infrastructure development are digital campaigns, collaborations with social media influencers, participation in international tourism fairs and roadshows, and programmes under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative that promote India's cultural heritage through student exchanges, cuisine festivals and tourism events. To further improve ease of travel, the Government has expanded the e-Visa facility across nine visa categories for nationals of 174 countries, enhancing accessibility for international visitors. Together, these initiatives are expected to strengthen India's tourism competitiveness, increase domestic and international tourist arrivals, generate employment opportunities and reinforce tourism's contribution to inclusive economic growth.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.