In a resounding affirmation of India’s burgeoning tourism sector, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, told the Rajya Sabha today that the country has achieved one of the strongest recoveries in global tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighting the sector’s robust rebound, the minister revealed that more than 2 crore foreign tourists visited India in the last one year alone.
Responding to a starred question (SQ No. 49) on the promotion and development of tourism in Tamil Nadu, Shekhawat emphasized India’s position as a top performer worldwide. “Among the countries that have shown the best recovery in the tourism sector after COVID, India is one of them,” he stated during the Question Hour session, as captured in a widely shared video clip from the proceedings. “In the last one year, more than 2 crore foreign tourists have come to India.”
The minister’s remarks underscore a dramatic turnaround for a sector that was decimated by the pandemic. Official data from the Ministry of Tourism, shared in a written reply during the same session, paints a picture of steady growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs). In 2021, amid lingering restrictions, arrivals stood at just 15.27 lakh. By 2022, this surged to 64.37 lakh, climbing further to 95.21 lakh in 2023 and 99.52 lakh in 2024. Provisional figures for January to October 2025 already show 69.80 lakh visitors, signaling that the full-year tally could easily surpass pre-pandemic levels of 1.09 crore recorded in 2019.
Shekhawat attributed this success to concerted government efforts, including eased visa norms, enhanced infrastructure, and targeted promotional campaigns. “The Ministry of Tourism is working tirelessly to make India a seamless, end-to-end tourism destination,” he added, pointing to initiatives like the revamped Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme and the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) sub-scheme. These programs focus on sustainable tourism, with financial assistance extended to states for developing eco-friendly infrastructure, such as bio-toilets, waste management systems, and solar-powered facilities.
Tamil Nadu, the focal point of today’s query raised by members including Sudha Murty, stands to benefit significantly from these national strategies. The state, renowned for its ancient temples, pristine beaches, and cultural heritage sites like Mahabalipuram and Madurai, has received multiple project sanctions under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive). These include developments at key sites to boost visitor experience and promote responsible tourism practices. According to ministry records, Tamil Nadu’s tourism infrastructure is being upgraded to handle increased footfall while preserving its rich Dravidian legacy.
The minister’s optimistic outlook aligns with broader economic projections for the sector. At a recent industry conference, Shekhawat forecasted a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% for Indian tourism, driven by rising global interest in experiential travel and India’s diverse offerings—from spiritual circuits to adventure hotspots. 7 He also announced ongoing work on reciprocal visa-on-arrival facilities with select countries and faster e-visa processing to further lower barriers for international travelers.
Opposition members, however, pressed for more state-specific allocations, with supplementary questions highlighting the need for better connectivity to offbeat destinations in Tamil Nadu. Shekhawat assured the House that the central government is collaborating closely with state administrations to address such gaps, emphasizing tourism’s role as a “key driver of national transformation.”
As India eyes its ambitious goal of becoming a $500 billion tourism economy by 2030, today’s exchange in the Upper House serves as a timely reminder of the sector’s potential to fuel employment, cultural exchange, and sustainable growth. With foreign arrivals on an upward trajectory, the minister’s words resonate beyond the chamber: India’s tourism renaissance is not just recovering—it’s soaring.
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