India is setting its sights on becoming one of the top 10 global tourism destinations within the next five years, according to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the country’s Minister of Tourism and Culture.
Shekhawat emphasized that the contribution of the tourism sector to the Indian economy is expected to grow from 7.9% to over 10% during this period. To achieve this goal, the government plans to attract private investments through public-private partnership (PPP) models.
In early August, India’s tourism department reported that the country currently ranks 39th among 119 tourist destinations worldwide. The minister noted that by 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of independence from British colonial rule, tourism is expected to become one of the country’s key sectors.
“The world is looking at India with curiosity,” Shekhawat added.
The minister also highlighted that one of the crucial strategies for boosting inbound tourism is to increase the number of travel routes, particularly to states that have not been major tourist destinations in the past. Currently, foreign travelers mostly visit nine of India’s 28 states—Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Punjab, Kerala, Bihar, and Goa—as well as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. These six states and Delhi account for 65% of all tourist visits.
Additionally, Shekhawat pointed to a significant rise in interest in Indian culture and cuisine. Since 2019, the number of online searches related to these topics has increased by 48%, reflecting a growing international interest in India as a global tourism destination.
