What is the government's plan for promoting tourism in India?

The government plans to promote tourism by developing trekking trails in the Himalayas and Ghats and opening 15 excavated archaeological sites with curated walkways and immersive storytelling.

How much funding has been allocated for the Swadesh Darshan scheme in FY27?

The Swadesh Darshan scheme has been allocated ₹1,905 crore for FY27 to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations.

What is the new pilot scheme for tourist guides in India?

A hybrid pilot scheme is proposed to train and upskill 10,000 guides in the 20 top tourist destinations across the country.

Home / Business and Economy / Himalayan treks, Indus sites: India eyes tourism boom

Himalayan treks, Indus sites: India eyes tourism boom

1 Feb

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Summary

Government plans tourism development for Himalayan and Ghat treks.
Fifteen archaeological sites, including Lothal and Dholavira, will be developed.
A pilot scheme aims to train 10,000 guides at top tourist spots.

Himalayan treks, Indus sites: India eyes tourism boom

The Indian government is proposing to promote thematic tourism by developing trekking routes in the Himalayas and Ghats, alongside archaeological sites like those from the Indus Valley Civilisation and Buddhist locations. These initiatives will be supported by the Swadesh Darshan scheme, which has received an allocation of ₹1,905 crore for FY27. The finance minister announced plans to open 15 excavated archaeological sites for public access, featuring curated walkways and immersive storytelling technologies.

Additionally, a hybrid pilot scheme is planned to train and upskill 10,000 guides at the country's top 20 tourist destinations. While the Swadesh Darshan scheme's allocation remains similar, its utilization in FY26 was ₹517 crore out of ₹1,900 crore. The overall budget for the tourism ministry has seen a 4% decrease to ₹2,438.40 crore for FY27.