Government highlights tourism growth driven by infrastructure, aviation, and rising travel demand
Suman Billa said the tourism sector’s contribution to India’s GDP is targeted to rise from 5.22% to 10% over the next 10 years, supported by infrastructure expansion and increasing domestic and international travel demand.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 15th edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar in Jaipur, the Ministry of Tourism official stated that the target aligns with the vision outlined by Narendra Modi for the sector’s long-term growth.
According to Mr. Billa, India has witnessed significant infrastructure development since 2014, with the number of airports increasing from 75 to 150. He also highlighted the expansion of rail connectivity, including services such as Vande Bharat Express, along with growth in road infrastructure and aviation capacity.
He noted that aircraft fleet strength in India is expected to increase from around 800 aircraft currently to approximately 1,600 by 2030.
Sharing tourism growth figures, Mr. Billa said domestic tourist visits increased from 1.5 billion in 2014 to more than 4 billion in 2025. International tourist arrivals, according to him, have grown from around 10 million in 2014 to 20 million currently.
He added that tourism-related foreign exchange earnings currently stand at $32 billion.
Mr. Billa also urged industry stakeholders to expand hotel capacity and develop destinations with global standards to strengthen India’s competitiveness in international tourism and retain outbound travellers within the country.
