NEW DELHI, May 31 – Union tourism and culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday announced an ambitious goal of raising tourism’s contribution to India’s GDP to 10% by 2030, nearly doubling its current share of 5%. He made the remarks at the CII Annual Business Summit in the capital.
“India will align with global standards, with 10% of GDP coming from tourism,” Shekhawat said, stressing the sector’s potential in tandem with economic growth. He highlighted spiritual and cultural tourism as key drivers, especially among the growing aspirational middle class. “Those who have emerged from poverty will commonly opt for spiritual tourism,” he noted.
Shekhawat said India is seeing a shift from reliance on foreign visitors to domestic travellers, who now form the backbone of the tourism economy. Citing the Ujjain Mahakal Corridor, which drew over 1 million visitors in one month, he emphasized the importance of local spiritual and heritage sites.
The strategy includes robust investment in transport infrastructure — roads, railways, and aviation — and upgrading facilities at major tourist spots. “Infrastructure status for the sector will unlock private investment,” Shekhawat stated.
In line with post-Covid travel patterns, the Centre has encouraged states to propose projects that promote experiential tourism, especially at monuments and cultural sites.
Calling for greater public-private cooperation, Shekhawat urged corporates to support domestic travel and host events within the country to boost the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) segment. “Ease of doing travel in India will segue into ease of doing business,” he said.
Shekhawat also revealed government plans to develop the next 50 tourism destinations, as part of a larger vision to make India a global tourism powerhouse backed by rising infrastructure investment and domestic momentum.
