Tourism Poised to Become India’s New Growth Engine: Shekhawat
State Tourism Ministers’ Meet 2025 in Udaipur (Image X.com)
Shekhawat said India has everything it takes to become the world’s top tourism hub — from cultural depth to policy reform and digital transformation.
By AMIT KUMAR
Udaipur, October 14, 2025 — Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday projected tourism as the next big driver of India’s economy, asserting that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the sector is transforming into an engine of employment, cultural pride, and sustainable growth.
Delivering the keynote address at the National Tourism Conference in Udaipur, Shekhawat said India possesses every element needed to become the world’s leading tourism destination — from unmatched cultural diversity to heritage, tradition, and natural beauty. “Now is the time,” he said, “to showcase this immense potential to the world.”
At the heart of this vision lies the Prime Minister’s ‘One State, One Global Destination’ initiative, which seeks to ensure that every Indian state develops at least one world-class tourism hub. “This model,” Shekhawat noted, “will not only attract foreign visitors but also encourage Indians to rediscover their own country.”
Tourism as the New Economic Driver
Post-pandemic, India’s tourism industry has rebounded at an unprecedented pace. According to Shekhawat, India welcomed around 20 million inbound tourists in 2024, alongside 2.84 billion domestic trips. The sector now contributes nearly 6% to India’s GDP, with a target of 10% within the next few years.
He highlighted how India’s tourism once revolved largely around the Delhi–Jaipur–Agra circuit, but new destinations across states are rapidly emerging. “Healthy competition among states is a positive sign for India’s economic vitality,” Shekhawat said.
Infrastructure, Policy, and Digital Push
Shekhawat credited the Modi government’s infrastructure revolution for making travel “easier, faster, and more inclusive than ever before.” The expansion of roads, rail, air, and waterways, combined with the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASAD schemes, has fostered a framework for sustainable and responsible tourism.
The Digital India and Incredible India 2.0 initiatives have also empowered small operators, rural hosts, and local entrepreneurs by giving them global visibility through online platforms and e-tourism tools.
India’s Global Ambition: Top 10 Tourism Nations
Shekhawat outlined India’s ambition to enter the Top 10 global tourism destinations in the coming decade. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) ranked India around 60th in 2014, improving to 39th in 2025. “If the Centre and states work in synergy,” he said, “India could reach the 20th position within five years and break into the top 10 by 2035.”
To that end, the Centre plans to develop 50 global destinations, with each state contributing at least one flagship site. The model emphasizes performance-based incentives and inter-state collaboration.
Learning from States, Leading the World
Encouraging state representatives to participate actively, Shekhawat said the two-day conference offers “a platform to exchange ideas, learn from success stories, and design India’s collective tourism future.” The ‘One State, One Global Destination’ plan, he emphasized, is more than a policy — it’s a national mission to carry India’s cultural soul to the world.
“Tourism is India’s spirit,” Shekhawat declared. “It’s not just about travel — it’s about connecting people and telling India’s story to the world. If we move together, India will not just remain Incredible India — it will emerge as the Leading India of Global Tourism.”
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