In a crucial move aimed at reviving inbound tourism and boosting foreign tourist arrivals (FTA), the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the formation of an “India Tourism Board” under his leadership and seeking an immediate budgetary allocation of INR. 1000 crore under the Incredible India campaign. The appeal comes at a time when India’s FTA figures have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019, despite signs of global tourism recovery.
IATO’s latest assessment, based on data trends and discussions with key stakeholders, reveals that India’s inbound tourism is performing significantly below its potential. The association highlights that while India boasts unmatched natural beauty, heritage, and culture, it continues to fall short in converting these into substantial foreign tourist footfall and foreign exchange earnings.
Ravi Gosain, President of IATO, emphasized that inbound tourism serves as a valuable, tariff-free export and a powerful tool of soft diplomacy. “Unlike goods, foreign tourists spending in India directly contribute to our foreign exchange reserves. Inbound tourism is a stable and sustainable source of revenue that also generates large-scale employment. Yet, the country’s efforts to attract foreign tourists have been inadequate,” he stated.
Gosain stressed that each international visitor not only brings foreign exchange but also becomes a cultural ambassador of India, spreading awareness about the nation’s values, heritage, and diversity. He underlined the potential of the tourism sector to contribute an additional 1–2% to India’s GDP if proper attention and investment are provided.
Along with the formation of the tourism board and financial support, IATO has proposed several other actionable steps to boost FTAs. These include simplifying visa facilitation processes, expanding the scope of e-Visas, fast-tracking group tourist visas, and considering visa fee waivers for select countries. Additionally, Gosain has called for incentivising international airlines and charter operators to enhance air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 tourism hubs across India.
With the upcoming tourism season only a few months away, IATO believes that urgent action from the government could significantly impact inbound tourism in the current financial year and position India more competitively on the global tourism map.
