Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER Shri G.K Reddy said that despite the tourism sector being severely affected by COVID, India saw a good boost in Foreign Tourist Arrivals in 2022 and approximately 6.19 million foreign tourists were received in India during 2022. This is a four-fold increase in the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals over last year.
Union Minister also informed that the Ministry of Tourism is celebrating this year as “Visit India Year 2023” focusing on in-bound travel to India. In India tourists can experience Boundless Cultural heritage; Blissful spiritual experiences; Bountiful wildlife resources and Beautiful natural beauty, the Minister explained.
Giving more details, Shri G.K Reddy said that over the last 8.5 years, India has built extensive tourism infrastructure worth approximately USD $ 1 Billion dollars (Rs. 7,000 Crores) to improve tourist experience. Union Minister also said that India has taken several initiatives for skilling youth including Short Term Hospitality courses, Skill Testing and Certification, Recognition of Prior Learning, Digital Courses online. He also said that India is nurturing and developing young ambassadors of Indian tourism through YUVA Tourism Clubs in schools and colleges across India.
Highlighting the importance of safety, the Union Minister remarked that the Government of India is focussed on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of tourists travelling in India and is formulating and implementing Uniform Tourist Police for providing a safe and secure environment to the tourists. G.K Reddy also said that India is appointing nodal officers in the Indian Missions abroad of the top 20 source countries.
