States » EastPosted at: Oct 1 2026 6:50PM


India targets 10 pc tourism contribution to GDP by 2047: union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Kolkata, Oct 1 (UNI) India is targeting a rise in tourism's contribution to its gross domestic product from around 6 per cent currently to 10 per cent by 2047, with an interim goal of 7 per cent by 2027, union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday.
Addressing the Indian Chamber of Commerce's Hospitality and Tourism Summit 2026 at Taj Bengal here, Shekhawat called for a more investor-friendly policy framework, urging governments to function as facilitators and enablers rather than regulators to accelerate investment in the sector.
"The government has to work as a facilitator and an enabler, not as a regulator. We have to ensure that our policies and systems create an environment in which investments can come into the tourism sector seamlessly," he said.
The minister advocated a seamless single-window clearance mechanism for tourism projects and cited Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, where capital subsidies of 30 per cent were available, while Rajasthan also had subsidy provisions for tourism investors.
Shekhawat said India's tourism strategy needed to move beyond conventional sightseeing, with travellers increasingly seeking immersive experiences rooted in local culture, traditions and natural surroundings.
"Tourism is no longer restricted to monuments. Experiences are becoming the priority. We have to develop destinations in a manner that allows visitors to experience the culture, traditions, natural beauty and local life of a place," he said.
India recorded approximately 20-22 million international tourist arrivals, Shekhawat said, emphasising the need to strengthen the entire visitor journey, from arrival to departure, through improved infrastructure, connectivity and visitor services.
He also flagged the emerging tendency in some tourist destinations to resist or discourage visitors, cautioning that such sentiments were beginning to surface in India as well.
"We must ensure that the welcoming gesture of local communities remains intact. The involvement of local people is essential because tourism cannot grow sustainably if the community itself feels disconnected from it," he said.
Stressing that local communities must remain central to tourism development, the minister said destinations needed to ensure that residents benefited from tourism while preserving the welcoming environment expected by visitors.
Shekhawat reiterated the Centre's commitment to supporting states in developing tourism infrastructure and said India's long-term ambition was to transform 'Incredible India' into 'Inevitable India'.
Assuring West Bengal of the Centre's full assistance, he said the state was favourably positioned in terms of location and connectivity to develop its tourism potential.
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