India Tourism Statistics 2022

What’s in News?

India Tourism Statistics 2022 was released recently.

Highlights:

• Taj Mahal, Red Fort and the Qutub Minar are the top three most visited sites
• Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, "the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during 2021 decreased to 1.52 million as compared to 2.74 million in 2020, registering a negative growth of 44.5%".
• Taj Mahal was the most popular centrally-protected ticketed monument for domestic visitors in 2021-22, while the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu was the most visited centrally-protected ticketed monument for foreign visitors during the same period.
• India's ranking in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) was 54th in 2021.
• In 2021, the top 15 source markets for Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India were the U. S., Bangladesh, the U. K., Canada, Nepal, Afghanistan, Australia, Germany, Portugal, France, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Russia, Iraq, and the Netherlands.
• In 2021, the top 15 nations accounted for approximately 80.9% of total Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India.
• In 2021, foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism were USD 8.797 billion against USD 6.959 billion in 2020, registering a growth of 26.4 per cent.
• India received 677.63 million domestic tourist visits in 2021, an increase of 11.05% from 610.22 million in 2020.
• The two states with the most domestic tourists visiting are Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu had the highest numbers of foreign tourist visits.

Dharamshala Declaration:

• Recently, National Conference of State Tourism Ministers was concluded with the adoption of Dharamshala Declaration.
• The Declaration affirms commitment toward developing “sustainable and responsible tourism” and positions India as a “global leader in the tourism sector by 2047”.
• It announces to bring in necessary interventions including visa reforms, ease of travel, travel-friendly immigration facilities at airports and openness to international travel.
• Apart from it, the declaration document talks about the short-term and long-term goals in the tourism sector.
• Short Term Goals: The Indian tourism industry will strive to recover to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2024.
• The country is estimated to achieve USD 150 billion GDP contribution, USD 30 billion foreign exchange earnings and 15 million foreign tourist arrivals by that period.
• Medium Term Goals: By 2030, the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7-9% and tourism-related goals are USD 250 billion GDP contribution; 137 million jobs, 56 million foreign tourist arrivals and USD 56 billion in foreign exchange earnings.
• Long Term Goal: Ensuring the positioning of India as one of the leaders in the world in the tourism sector and revenue goal of $1 trillion by 2047.
• Union Tourism and Culture Minister called on states to start work on “a war footing” by establishing tourism clubs like Yuva Tourism clubs at district and mandal levels in the lines of NSS and NCC.
• Centre announced that several visa reforms will be undertaken, while immigration will also be made more visitor-friendly.