Rajasthan Emerges as Strong Tourism Hub; India Ranks 2nd Globally in Domestic Travel Potential

Jaipur, Nov 2025 : Union Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, said that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is making systematic efforts to enhance facilities and connectivity at tourist destinations across the country.

Shri Shekhawat was the chief guest at a seminar on “Reimagining Tourism in Western Rajasthan” organized by the Department of Commerce and Management at Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner, in the context of Developed India, Developed Rajasthan @2047. The event was also attended by Shivbadi Mahant Swami Vimrashanand and Bikaner (West) MLA Shri Jethanand Vyas.

The minister highlighted that globally, over 10% of a country’s GDP comes from tourism, whereas India’s tourism contributes 5.5% of GDP. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, structured and phased efforts are underway to raise India’s tourism GDP closer to the global average through policy formulation and implementation.

Shri Shekhawat noted that Rajasthan contributes the highest share of tourism GDP among Indian states. With its vast potential and diversity, the state offers numerous opportunities. India has the second-highest domestic tourism potential in the world after the United States. Last year, 8 crore visitors visited the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, 7.5 crore visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, and the recent Maha Kumbh witnessed 66 crore visitors in just 45 days—clear evidence of this potential.

Post-COVID, India has become a top revival destination for tourism. Under Prime Minister Modi, transport infrastructure including rail, road, and air connectivity has expanded, with investments of ₹5,000 crore in religious and other tourist sites. Last year, ₹3,300 crore were spent on upgrading existing sites and developing new destinations.

The minister also stated that 50 new iconic tourist destinations are being developed across India to meet global standards, with at least one such site in each state. He praised Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma for the state’s progressive tourism policy and innovative initiatives for visitors.