Can Tourism Fuel 10% of India’s GDP by 2047? The Ambitious Plan Explained

Imagine tourism powering a full 10% of India’s massive economy by 2047! That’s the ambitious target set by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Currently, travel and tourism contribute between 5-6% to India’s GDP. But the government isn’t just hoping for growth; they see it as inevitable, driven by India’s projected economic surge to a staggering $32 trillion by 2047.

What are the core aims driving this Tourism Vision?
Economic Transformation: Elevate tourism from a significant sector to a major economic engine, directly contributing 10% to GDP ($3.2 trillion in a $32 trillion economy).
Global Benchmarking: Bring India’s tourism contribution in line with global averages, signalling a mature and competitive tourism economy.
Leveraging Uniqueness: Capitalize decisively on India’s unparalleled strength in spiritual tourism, where the Minister asserts “India has no competition.” Every state’s rich diversity and unique culture are seen as key assets.
Infrastructure Revolution: Address the historical Achilles’ heel – inadequate infrastructure – to support massive growth. The sector is projected to grow at a remarkable 24% annually (CAGR).
Job Creation & Development: Implicit in this growth is the generation of vast employment opportunities and balanced regional development through increased tourist footfall.

Supporting the Vision:
Initiatives like the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (launched 2014-15) are building theme-based tourist circuits.
India’s global tourism ranking has already jumped to 8th place (WTTC report 2023), contributing $231.6 billion, with predictions to reach 4th place within a decade.

Challenges Remain: While the vision is clear, overcoming infrastructure gaps, ensuring sustainable practices, enhancing connectivity, and improving visitor experiences nationwide are critical hurdles to cross.


Sample Questions & Answers for Exam Prep:
Q: What is the government’s target for tourism’s contribution to India’s GDP by 2047?
A: The government aims to increase tourism’s contribution to 10% of India’s GDP by 2047.
Q: According to Union Minister Shekhawat, what is India’s unique strength in global tourism?
A: Minister Shekhawat highlighted that India has no competition in the realm of spiritual tourism, leveraging its diverse cultural and religious heritage.
Q: What major challenge hindered tourism development in India a decade ago, as per the Minister?
A: The Minister identified inadequate infrastructure as the primary challenge to tourism development a decade ago.
Q: Name one central government scheme focused on developing theme-based tourist circuits.
A: The Swadesh Darshan Scheme, launched in 2014-15, provides financial assistance to states/UTs for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.
Q: What is the projected Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for India’s tourism sector mentioned?
A: The tourism sector is projected to grow at a 24% CAGR.