1.89 crore foreign tourists visited India in 2023; the government earned 2.31 lakh crore

New Delhi| India is paying special attention to the tourism sector to attract tourists as well as create employment and increase foreign exchange. Many schemes have also been prepared to promote this sector. Due to these efforts of the government, not only a large number of foreign tourists are coming to India, but foreign exchange earnings (FEE) are also increasing. Foreign exchange earnings mean monetary gains earned by selling goods and services or exchanging currencies.

According to data released by the Ministry of Tourism, about 1.89 crore foreign tourists visited India in 2023. Through these tourists, the government received foreign exchange earnings of about Rs 2.32 lakh crore. Around 250.9 crore domestic tourists also visited various tourist destinations during this period.

The ministry said, special assistance has been given to the states to promote tourism in the country. In the 2024-25 budget, an amount of Rs 3295.76 crore has been sanctioned for 40 projects to 23 states for the development of prestigious tourism centers globally. States have been granted long-term interest-free loans for a period of 50 years for the comprehensive development of prestigious tourist centres in the country and their branding on a global scale.

A total of 34 new projects were approved under the new form of the scheme, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, at a cost of 793.20 crore.
Out of 48 projects costing Rs 1,646.99 crore under the PRASAD scheme, 23 have been completed.
Under the Scheme of Assistance to Central Agencies, 65 projects have been approved at a cost of 937.5 crore. Of these, 38 have been completed.

The Ministry has launched an initiative called ‘Paryatan Mitra & Tourism Didi’ on World Tourism Day on September 27, 2024. In addition, the Ministry has tied up with eight major hospitality chains and 21 hotel management institutes to provide better facilities to tourists visiting India.