Government of India Tourism Policies and Schemes

Tourism is a major growth sector for India, supporting jobs, foreign exchange earnings and regional development. The Ministry of Tourism serves as the nodal central agency for policy-making, coordination with states, and implementation of development schemes.

Policy Framework

India’s tourism policy framework seeks to balance economic growth with sustainability, infrastructure upgradation and heritage conservation. The broad aim is to position India as a year-round destination by promoting niche segments and improving ease of travel.

• National Tourism Policy: Focuses on sustainable tourism, target-driven infrastructure development, public-private partnerships and better digital facilitation for domestic and international visitors.
• Market diversification: Encourages expansion into wellness, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), cruise, eco-tourism and other specialised segments.
• Regulatory support: Emphasises streamlined approvals and coordinated development between the Centre and states.

National Strategy Documents

• National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism: Aims to reduce environmental degradation, lower carbon footprints at tourist sites and promote eco-friendly hospitality practices.
• National Strategy for Eco-Tourism: Promotes responsible travel to natural areas, biodiversity conservation and economic empowerment of local forest-fringe communities.
• National Strategy for Rural Tourism: Encourages village homestays, rural handicrafts, cultural showcases and local employment to reduce distress migration.
• National Strategy for Medical and Wellness Tourism: Seeks to strengthen India’s position as a cost-effective global hub for medical value travel and AYUSH-based wellness treatments.

Major Infrastructure Schemes

• Swadesh Darshan 1.0: Launched in 2014-15 as a Central Sector Scheme to develop 15 theme-based tourist circuits across India.
• Theme circuits under SD 1.0: Included Buddhist, Coastal, Desert, Eco, Heritage, Himalayan, Krishna, North-East, Ramayana, Rural, Spiritual, Sufi, Tirthankar, Tribal and Wildlife circuits.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0: Revamped the earlier circuit approach and shifted focus to holistic, destination-centric and sustainable tourism development.
• Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD): A sub-scheme under SD 2.0 for developing destinations through competitive selection across culture and heritage, eco-tourism, vibrant border villages and spiritual sites.
• PRASHAD: Stands for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive; launched in 2014-15 as a 100% Centrally Funded Central Sector Scheme.
• PRASHAD objective: Supports integrated infrastructure development at identified pilgrimage and heritage sites to improve tourist experience, connectivity and basic amenities.
• PRASHAD components: Includes entry gates, last-mile connectivity, illumination, waiting halls, pilgrim facilitation centres, renewable energy installations and waste management systems.
• SASCI: Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, introduced by the Ministry of Tourism to support comprehensive development of iconic global tourist centres.
• SASCI funding: Provides 100% central funding for approved projects, while operational management remains with the respective state authorities.

Promotion and Digital Initiatives

• Dekho Apna Desh: Launched in 2020 to encourage domestic tourism and promote lesser-known cultural, natural and historical destinations across India.
• People’s Choice Poll: Citizen engagement initiative under Dekho Apna Desh to identify popular tourist attractions and hidden gems for development focus.
• Incredible India 2.0: Shifted promotion from generic branding to market-specific, thematic and digital-first campaigns.
• Target segments: Focuses on yoga, wellness, luxury, wildlife, cuisine and heritage to attract high-value international tourists.
• NIDHI: National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry, a digital registry for accommodation units to aid standardisation, policy formulation and safety compliance.
• SAATHI: System for Assessment, Awareness and Training for Hospitality Industry, implemented with the Quality Council of India to improve safety, hygiene and operational standards.
• Utsav Portal: Highlights festivals, cultural events and live temple darshans to support travel planning for domestic and international tourists.

Niche Tourism Initiatives

• Cruise Bharat Mission: Aims to tap ocean and river cruise potential across India’s coastline and inland waterways.
• Inland waterway tourism: Promotes long-distance river cruise voyages on National Waterways, including routes along the Ganga and Brahmaputra.
• Wed in India: Promotes India as a global wedding destination through campaigns such as “India Says I Do” and “Wed in India”.
• Wedding tourism focus: Highlights royal heritage palaces, coastal resorts and cultural venues to capture the destination wedding market.
• Adventure tourism: More than 120 new mountain peaks have been opened across the Himalayan region for trekking and mountaineering expeditions.
• Border tourism: Linked with the Vibrant Villages Programme to promote tourism in remote northern border villages and generate local entrepreneurship through homestays and eco-guides.

Scheme Snapshot

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Nodal ministry: The Ministry of Tourism is the central agency for tourism policy and coordination with states.
• Strategic shift: Swadesh Darshan 2.0 moved from circuit-based development to destination-centric planning.
• PRASHAD: It is a 100% centrally funded scheme for pilgrimage and heritage site development.
• Digital tools: NIDHI, SAATHI and the Utsav Portal support standardisation, safety and tourist information.
• Domestic promotion: Dekho Apna Desh aims to boost travel to lesser-known destinations within India.
• Cruise focus: Cruise Bharat Mission promotes both ocean and river cruise tourism.
• Border and rural tourism: Policies and schemes also support homestays, eco-guides and local livelihoods.