India is at a crossroads in its tourism sector, facing the challenge of balancing a booming outbound travel market with an underdeveloped inbound tourism potential. Recent government initiatives aim to address this disparity and reshape the country’s position in global tourism.
Last month, the Indian government unveiled a series of initiatives designed to stimulate inbound tourism, including the provision of 100,000 complimentary visas. These measures come at a critical time, as the recovery of inbound travel lags behind the surge in outbound tourism. Industry experts have highlighted several factors contributing to this gap, including safety concerns, visa complexities, and inadequate infrastructure. Nevertheless, there are significant opportunities to enhance India’s attractiveness as a destination.
India’s outbound tourism has witnessed remarkable growth, with international departures rising by 14% in the first half of this year compared to 2023. This increase represents a 12% boost over pre-pandemic levels in 2019, indicating a sustained recovery and a renewed enthusiasm for travel among Indians in the aftermath of the pandemic.
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