Minister of State for Culture and Tourism has conveyed that the number of Domestic Tourist Visits to all States/Union Territories (UTs), including the visits for religious and medical purpose, has increased to 161.4 Crore in 2016 from 143.2 Crore in 2015, registering a growth of 12.7% in 2016 over 2015.
The number of Foreign Tourist Visits to all States/UTs, including the visits for religious and medical purpose, has increased to 2.5 Crore in 2016 from 2.3 Crore in 2015, registering a growth of 5.9% in 2016 over 2015.
The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals, as differentiated from Foreign Tourist Visits, in India has increased to 88.0 lakh in 2016 from 80.3 lakh in 2015, registering a growth of 9.7% in 2016 over 2015.
As per the information available for the current year, the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India during January-June 2017 were 48.8 lakh registering a growth of 17.2% over the same period of 2016.
As per the 2nd Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) of India – 2009-10 and subsequent estimation, the contribution of tourism to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were 6.77%, 6.76%, 6.76% and 6.88% respectively
The major schemes operated by the Ministry of Tourism for development and promotion of tourism in the country are given below:
- Swadesh Darshan – Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits on Specific Themes
- National Mission for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)
- Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Market Development Assistance
- Assistance to IHMs/FCIs/IITTM/NCHMCT
- Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality
- Capacity Building for Service Providers
- Computerization and Information Technology
Tourism is a demand based concept defined not by its output but by its use. It consumes the output of various industries like Passenger Transport (Air/ Rail/Road), Hotels & Restaurants, etc. The initiatives taken by the Ministry to boost tourism in the country under various schemes would in turn benefit the various service industries by way of increasing demands and inter-alia direct and indirect employment generation.