World Tourism Day 2026: India’s Tourism Growth and Digital Transformation

Why in News?

World Tourism Day 2026 was observed on 27 September under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”The global observance was held in El Salvador. The theme highlighted the role of digital innovation, data and Artificial Intelligence in transforming tourism planning, destination management and visitor experiences.

About World Tourism Day

• World Tourism Day is an initiative of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). It is observed annually on 27 September to commemorate the adoption of the UNWTO statutes in 1970. It was first celebrated in 1980.
• The day highlights tourism’s contribution to socio-economic development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Theme for 2026

• The theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism” focuses on using technology and AI to improve decision-making, strengthen skills, personalise travel, manage destinations and make tourism more inclusive and sustainable.

World Tourism Day Celebrations in India

Central Celebration

• The central celebration was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• The Ministry of Tourism announced the National Digital Tourism Stack and Dekho Apna Desh 2.0.
• The Ministry also proposed partnerships with industry organisations to improve destination visibility, digital outreach, experiential tourism, sustainable tourism and community participation under the Incredible India framework.

Telangana

• Telangana organised cultural programmes, workshops, tourism film screenings, concerts and artisanal stalls displaying food, handlooms and handicrafts.
• The Telangana State Tourism Awards recognised travel agents, tour operators, classified hotels, restaurants, independent hotels and other participants in the tourism industry.

Delhi

• The Delhi Government organised “RANG • RAS • ROOH” at Baansera, the bamboo park at Sarai Kale Khan on the banks of the Yamuna, on 26–27 September.
• The programme combined art, culture, food, entertainment and tourism experiences. It also included a Qawwali performance by the Nizami Brothers.

Status of Global Tourism

In 2024, global travel and tourism contributed US$10.9 trillion, accounting for around 10% of global GDP. The sector supported approximately 357 million jobs and generated US$1.9 trillion in international visitor spending.

Status of Tourism in India

• Tourism connects people with India’s culture, heritage, natural landscapes and communities. It also generates employment, supports local businesses and contributes to foreign exchange earnings.

Tourism Satellite Account

• The Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) is the official accounting framework used to measure tourism’s direct and indirect economic contribution.
• Tourism contributes 5.22% to India’s GDP. Employment in the sector increased from 6.94 crore in 2019-20 to 8.46 crore in 2023-24.

Growth in Tourist Visits

• Domestic Tourist Visits increased from 67.7 crore in 2021 to 428.55 crore in 2025. Foreign Tourist Visits increased from 0.1 crore to 2.53 crore during the same period.
• Foreign exchange earnings from tourism rose from ₹63,978 crore in 2021 to ₹2,76,831 crore in 2025.

Digital Transformation of Tourism

• Tourism is moving from physical maps, guidebooks and manual bookings towards smartphones, online platforms and AI-enabled services.
• Digital technology now helps travellers discover destinations, plan journeys, book transport and accommodation, obtain real-time weather information, explore cities, purchase tickets and receive emergency assistance.
• AI can analyse a traveller’s interests, budget and preferences to provide personalised travel plans. It can also improve destination management, tourism promotion and decision-making.

Major Digital Tourism Initiatives

National Digital Tourism Stack

• The National Digital Tourism Stack is an open digital public infrastructure initiative. It seeks to make tourism offerings more discoverable, accessible and trustworthy.
• It can connect information about destinations, transport, accommodation, service providers and visitor facilities through a common digital ecosystem.

Dekho Apna Desh 2.0

• Dekho Apna Desh 2.0 focuses on tourism-ready but lesser-known destinations. It seeks to promote domestic tourism, reduce pressure on overcrowded destinations, distribute tourist footfall more evenly and generate local livelihoods.

e-Visa Facility

• India introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation in 2014 for nationals of 43 countries. The e-Visa facility is now available to nationals of 172 countries.
• Entry is permitted through 88 international ports—37 airports, 38 seaports and 13 land ports. India issues approximately 78% of its visas electronically, while nearly 95% of e-Visa applications are processed within 72 hours.

Incredible India Digital Platform

• The revamped Incredible India Digital Platform presents virtual experiences related to culture, heritage, adventure, gastronomy, wellness, arts and crafts, and rural tourism.
• Its AI-powered services provide personalised information, real-time weather updates, city-exploration support and essential travel services.
• The platform connects travellers with Online Travel Agents for booking flights, hotels, cabs and buses. It also supports ticket booking for Archaeological Survey of India monuments.
• Its integration with NIDHI provides information about registered tour operators and travel agents.

NIDHI+

• NIDHI+, or the National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry, is a unified digital platform for the registration, recognition and classification of tourism service providers.
• It provides end-to-end online processing, integrated payments and transparent approvals while improving ease of doing business.

Google India Partnership

• In June 2026, the Ministry of Tourism signed an MoU with Google India to promote Indian tourism through digital technologies, AI, data-driven insights and capacity building.
• The partnership uses information on global travel trends, traveller behaviour and digital engagement. It also includes training for Ministry officials in digital marketing, campaign optimisation, content creation and emerging technologies.

Multilingual Tourist Helpline

• The Ministry operates a 24×7 multilingual Tourist Helpline through the toll-free number 1800111363 and short code 1363.
• It provides information in 12 international languages, including Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. It also assists tourists during emergencies and alerts the authorities when required.

Tourism Start-ups and Innovation

• As of 17 April 2023, India’s travel and tourism sector had 1,497 DPIIT-recognised start-ups across 262 districts, generating employment for nearly 13,919 people. About 58% were located in Tier II and Tier III cities.
• These start-ups operate in travel technology, online booking, homestays, rural tourism, experiential tourism, smart mobility and AI-enabled travel planning.
• Highway Delite has created a digitally connected highway-amenities network; VilloTale promotes rural tourism through homestays and community-based experiences; and udChalo provides technology-enabled travel services to more than 2.8 million defence personnel, veterans and their dependants through digital platforms and over 70 booking offices.

India’s Diverse Tourism Landscape

Spiritual and Pilgrimage Tourism

• India has important pilgrimage destinations associated with Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Major destinations include Ayodhya, Kashi, Bodh Gaya, Amritsar, Tirupati and Puri.
• PRASHAD and Swadesh Darshan support infrastructure and visitor facilities at religious destinations.

Buddhist Tourism

• Bodh Gaya in Bihar and Sarnath and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh are important sites associated with the life of the Buddha.
• These destinations reflect India’s historical and civilisational connections with Buddhist communities across Asia.

Heritage and Cultural Tourism

• India’s cultural tourism resources include forts, palaces, temples, archaeological sites, museums, historic cities, classical music, dance, festivals, handicrafts and regional cuisines.

Wellness, Yoga and Medical Tourism

• India’s traditions of Yoga, Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine give the country a distinct position in wellness tourism. These traditions are supported by modern healthcare facilities and medical services.

Eco-tourism and Wildlife Tourism

• National parks, tiger reserves, wetlands, mangroves, forests and Himalayan landscapes support wildlife safaris, birdwatching, trekking and nature trails.
• Responsible tourism can promote conservation while creating livelihoods for communities living around these destinations.

Rural, Homestay and Community-based Tourism

• Homestays, village experiences, local cuisine, handicrafts, agricultural activities and community-led experiences provide visitors with closer exposure to rural life.
• They can generate additional income for rural households, artisans, local enterprises and tribal communities.

Coastal, Cruise and Experiential Tourism

• Sea cruise passenger traffic increased from 1.08 lakh in 2014-15 to 4.62 lakh in 2025-26, recording 328% growth.
• International cruise terminals at Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and Chennai have been upgraded and operationalised. Puducherry has been added to the East Coast Cruise Circuit.
• A QR-based immigration system has reduced clearance time to around 30 seconds per passenger. Digitised customs procedures and e-Group Visit Visas also support smoother entry for international cruise groups.

Lighthouse Tourism

• Lighthouses traditionally function as Marine Aids to Navigation.
• Under Section 23 of the Marine Aids to Navigation Act, 2021, the government is promoting lighthouses for educational, cultural and tourism purposes.
• Lighthouse museums at Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Alappuzha, Kannur, Muttom, Dwarka and Gopnath present India’s maritime history and the evolution of lighthouse technology.

MICE Tourism

• MICE tourism refers to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions.
• India is strengthening its business-events ecosystem through Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in Delhi and the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.
• The government has identified the potential to develop at least 10 Indian cities, particularly in South India, as global MICE destinations.
• The global MICE industry is projected to grow from US$870 billion to more than US$1.4 trillion by 2030. India currently holds approximately 5% of the global market.

International Tourism Cooperation

BRICS and the Jaipur Declaration

• During India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026, the BRICS Tourism Ministers’ Meeting was held in Jaipur and adopted the Jaipur Declaration.
• Its four priorities are AI and tourism, sustainable and responsible tourism, tourism skilling and capacity building, and tourism exchanges with seamless travel facilitation.
• It also supports cooperation in tourism planning, destination management, visitor services and multilingual communication.

G20 and Tourism Promotion

• During India’s G20 Presidency, more than 200 meetings were held across 60 cities.
• These meetings presented India’s heritage, regional cuisines and local crafts to an international audience. They also promoted destinations beyond metropolitan cities and demonstrated India’s capacity to organise major global events.

Infrastructure-led Destination Development

• India is moving from developing isolated attractions towards creating integrated destination ecosystems. Such an ecosystem combines tourism attractions, transport connectivity, accommodation, visitor facilities, safety, cleanliness, digital services and community participation.

Regional Air Connectivity

• A total of 687 UDAN routes connecting 95 airports have been operationalised.The Modified UDAN scheme for 2026-27 to 2035-36 has an approved outlay of ₹28,840 crore and proposes the development of 100 airports and 200 modern helipads.These measures seek to improve regional and last-mile access to tourist destinations, particularly in underserved regions.

Major Government Initiatives

Swadesh Darshan

• Swadesh Darshan was launched in 2014-15 to develop thematic tourism circuits.Under the scheme, 76 projects worth more than ₹5,295.24 crore were sanctioned across 15 thematic circuits, and 75 projects were physically completed.The circuits include Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Himalayan, North-East, Ramayana, Rural, Spiritual and Tribal tourism.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0

• Swadesh Darshan 2.0 follows a destination-centric approach based on sustainable tourism, experience-based tourism, integrated planning, infrastructure and improved visitor experiences.
• Under the scheme, 53 projects worth ₹2,207.08 crore have been sanctioned.

PRASHAD

• PRASHAD stands for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive.
• Launched in 2014-15, it provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories for developing pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
• Under PRASHAD, 54 projects worth ₹1,726.18 crore have been sanctioned.
• The scheme supports tourist facilitation centres, sound-and-light shows, parking facilities, ghats, solid-waste management systems, solar panels and CCTV installations.

Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment

• The SASCI scheme supports iconic tourist destinations through improved infrastructure, connectivity, visitor facilities and local employment.
• Under the scheme, 40 projects across 23 States were approved. It received ₹3,295.76 crore in 2024-25 with 100% Central funding.
• Under the amended 2025-26 guidelines, eligible States that had not received funds under Part III of SASCI 2024-25 could receive up to ₹250 crore under Part II.
• Accordingly, ₹250 crore each was sanctioned and released to Nagaland, Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

Tourism Skill Development

Capacity Building for Service Providers

• The Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) programme provides skilling, upskilling and reskilling for local communities, tribal populations, underprivileged youth and tourism-sector workers.Hunar Se Rozgar Tak is implemented under the programme.Training is provided through Institutes of Hotel Management, Food Craft Institutes, the Indian Culinary Institute and empanelled private institutions.

Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi

• Launched in 2024, the initiative trains local service providers in hospitality, cleanliness, safety and sustainability.
• Around 4,382 candidates have been trained, including cab and auto drivers, transport employees, hotel and restaurant workers, homestay owners, guides, police personnel, street vendors, shopkeepers and students.
• Women and marginalised communities are also included. Partnerships with 21 Central Institutes of Hotel Management and eight leading hospitality groups support professional training.

Significance

• Economic growth: Tourism contributes to GDP and foreign exchange earnings.
• Employment: It generates jobs across hospitality, transport and local services.
• Regional development: Lesser-known destinations can receive new economic opportunities.
• Community empowerment: Rural tourism supports households, artisans and local enterprises.
• Entrepreneurship: Tourism start-ups create opportunities beyond metropolitan cities.
• Cultural diplomacy: Tourism presents India’s heritage and civilisational links globally.
• Sustainability: Responsible tourism can connect conservation with livelihoods.
• Ease of travel: e-Visa and integrated platforms simplify the visitor experience.

Challenges

• Unequal digital access among small tourism service providers.
• Limited last-mile connectivity at emerging destinations.
• Excessive pressure on popular tourism centres.
• Need to balance tourist growth with environmental protection.
• Uneven quality of safety, cleanliness and visitor facilities.
• Shortage of professionally trained tourism workers.
• Limited participation of communities in destination management.
• Need for reliable and regularly updated digital information.
• Requirement of coordination among government, industry and communities.
• Risk of commercial tourism weakening local culture and heritage.

Way Forward

• Expand digital training for local service providers and small enterprises.
• Improve last-mile connectivity to emerging destinations.
• Promote lesser-known locations through Dekho Apna Desh 2.0.
• Use AI and data for planning, demand assessment and visitor management.
• Integrate tourism information through the National Digital Tourism Stack.
• Improve safety, cleanliness and visitor amenities.
• Include local communities in tourism planning and livelihood creation.
• Expand skilling through hospitality institutions and industry partnerships.
• Develop environmentally responsible tourism infrastructure.
• Promote homestays, local cuisine, handicrafts and community-led experiences.

Conclusion

India is moving from isolated tourist attractions towards integrated, destination-centric and digitally connected tourism ecosystems.AI, digital platforms, infrastructure, connectivity and skill development can make tourism more accessible and competitive. However, technology must also support sustainable destinations, local livelihoods and inclusive visitor experiences.India’s future tourism model must therefore be digital, inclusive, sustainable, people-centred and globally competitive.