The Vice-President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, released a report titled “India Tourism Statistics 2022” on World Tourism Day (September 27, 2022) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. According to the report that was prepared by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT),
- Maharashtra (MH) and Tamil Nadu (TN) had the highest numbers of foreign tourist visits, with 1.26 million and 1.23 million, respectively, in 2021.
- India received 677.63 million domestic tourist visits in 2021, an increase of 11.05% from 610.22 million in 2020.
On this occasion, the VP also unveiled the “GoBeyond: 75 Experiences of North India” e-book and the New Incredible India Global Promotional Films.
‘India Tourism Statistics 2022’ Report
The MoT has prepared the report by compiling the latest data from various sources viz. United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), States/UTs Tourism Department, Bureau of Immigration (BoI), Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) etc.
Key Highlights of the Report
i.According to the data, the total number of foreign visitors in 2021-22 was 3,18,673, a 23.4% decline from 4,15,859 in 2020-21.
ii.The total number of domestic visitors in 2021-22 was 2,60,46,891, up from 1,31,53,076 in 2020-21, representing a 98 % growth year on year.
- Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have the most domestic tourists, with 140.65 million and 86.12 million, respectively.
iii.In 2021, India was ranked 54th in the global Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI).
iv.Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India declined to 1.52 million in 2021 from 2.74 million in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, representing a negative growth of 44.5%.
- The top 15 source markets for FTAs in India in 2021: The United States (US), Bangladesh, the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Nepal, Afghanistan, Australia, Germany, Portugal, France, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Russian Federation, Iraq, and the Netherlands.
- These top 15 countries represented approximately 80.91% of the FTAs in India.
v.In 2021, the UAE was the leading source country for Indian National Departures (INDs), followed by the US, Qatar, Oman, the UK, the Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
- These top 10 countries made up about 85.93% of all INDs in 2021.
Taj Mahal Most-Visited Ticketed ASI Site for Domestic Tourists in 2021-22
According to the “India Tourism Statistics 2022” Report, the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is ranked 1st among the top 10 most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for Domestic Visitors in FY 2021–2022.
- While the Taj Mahal received the most visitors (3.29 million), the Red Fort (1.32 million) and the Qutub Minar (1.15 million), both UNESCO-recognized sites in Delhi, received the second and third most visitors.
The Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu (0.14 million visitors) and the Taj Mahal (0.038 million) were the two most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for Foreign Visitors in FY 2021–22.
Top 5 Most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for ‘Domestic Visitors’ in 2021-22
| Place | State | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2 | Red Fort | Delhi |
| 3 | Qutub Minar | Delhi |
| 4 | Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh |
Top 5 Most popular Centrally Protected Ticketed Monuments for ‘Foreign Visitors’ in 2021-22
| Place | State | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram | Tamil Nadu |
| 2 | Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh |
| 3 | Tiger headed Rock cut temple & two other monuments, Saluvankuppam
| Tamil Nadu |
| 4 | Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | Gingee Fort | Tamil Nadu |
Tourism to Contribute USD 250 Billion to GDP by 2030, India to Grow 7-9%
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, presided over a 3-day “National Conference of State Tourism Ministers” that took place in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, from September 18–20, 2022. (MoT).
- According to projections made at the conference, India’s tourism industry will return to its pre-pandemic level by mid-2024 and contribute USD 250 billion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.
The “Dharamshala Declaration-2022,” which emphasizes India’s commitment to creating “sustainable and responsible tourism,” was adopted during the conference and envisions India as a “global leader in the tourism sector by 2047.”
Key Points:
i.The National Tourism Policy was drafted with a comprehensive vision and strategy to revitalize India’s tourism industry, with a goal of reaching USD 1 trillion by 2047.
ii.The declaration states that India intends to position itself as a top tourist destination while it Chairs the G-20 Presidency in 2023.
iii.India is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7-9% over the next decade.
Recent Related news:
In July 2022, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh (UP), one of India’s holiest cities that showcases the country’s rich culture and heritage, has been named the first “Cultural & Tourism Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)” under a new rotating initiative to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states.
About Ministry of Tourism (MoT):
Union Minister – G. Kishan Reddy (Secunderabad Constituency, Telangana)
Minister of State (MoS) – Ajay Bhatt); Shripad Yesso Naik
