New Delhi: The Indian tourism industry is gearing up for a shift. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on citizens to save foreign exchange by limiting trips abroad, including vacations and destination weddings.
This push is expected to encourage more Indians to explore their own country. Travel operators believe that popular domestic spots, including heritage sites and luxury wedding venues, could see a surge in visitors.
Experts suggest that affluent travelers, who usually choose international destinations for weddings and trips, might now look for similar experiences within India. Rajnish Kaistha, a tourism expert, noted that a decline in outbound tourism could be around 10%. This would benefit Indian hotels and the overall economy.
He emphasized that while it’s essential to reduce outbound travel, boosting inbound tourism should also be a priority. Foreign tourists play a crucial role in strengthening India’s foreign exchange reserves, a sentiment echoed by Ravi Gosain, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). He pointed out that ongoing conflicts in West Asia and rising airfares are also discouraging international travel.
Garish Oberoi, from the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, shared that reducing outbound travel by 20% to 30% could significantly enhance the domestic tourism and hotel sector.
Recent data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that as restrictions eased, Indian outbound travel surged by 152.62% in 2022, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2023 with 27.88 million departures—a 29.05% increase. In 2024, this number climbed to 30.89 million, reflecting a trend driven largely by leisure travel, which made up 42.52% of total departures.
While the future looks hopeful, experts believe the government should do more to promote India’s tourist spots on the global stage. By enhancing publicity and attractive offerings, India could see an influx of international visitors, further boosting its economy.
For more insights on the impact of global trends on travel, you can explore resources from the Ministry of Tourism and current travel reports.
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MODI APPEAL TO AVOID FOREIGN TRAVEL, INBOUND TOURISM FOCUS, EXPERTS ANTICIPATE SIGNIFICANT BOOST IN INBOUND TOURISM AFTER MODI APPEAL TO AVOID FOREIGN TRAVEL
