18.89 million international tourist arrivals by 2023, forex earnings cross Rs 2.31 lakh crore: Center
India has recorded 18.89 million international tourists by 2023 as foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) from tourism last year reached Rs 231,927 crore, the government said on Wednesday. Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India by 2023 were 9.52 million and domestic tourist arrivals (DTVs) were 2,509 million, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism.
The department has approved a total of 76 projects at a cost of Rs 5,287.90 Crore under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, of which 75 projects have been completed.
Under this, 40 projects worth Rs 3,295.76 crore have been approved under special assistance to states for investment (SASCI) for the development of international tourist facilities in 23 states, and 34 projects have been approved for Rs 793.20 crore under ‘ Swadesh Darshan 2.0’ step.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been revamped as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective of developing sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourism and destination centric approach.
The Ministry of Tourism has also approved a total of 48 projects worth Rs 1.646.99 Crore under the PRASHAD scheme, of which 23 projects have been completed.
A total of 65 projects worth Rs 937.56 crore have been approved under the Assistance to Central Agencies Scheme, of which 38 projects have been physically completed, informed the Ministry.
The government has formulated guidelines for ‘Challenge Based Local Development’ as a sub-programme of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme to improve the tourist experience at all points of the tourist value chain.
The department said it has selected 42 places under different tourism themes to be developed under this program.
The ‘Chalo India’ campaign was launched to invite the Indian diaspora to showcase India to their non-Indian friends across the world; One lakh e-visas for foreign tourists visiting India have been issued under the campaign.
The department also unveiled the ‘Incredible India Content Hub’ to provide the global tourism industry with a unified source of content on Incredible India.
