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Tourism in India
Tourism in India is economically important and is growing rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated that
tourism generated 14.02 lakh crore (US$220 billion) or 9.6% of the nation's GDP in 2016 and supported 40.343 million jobs,
9.3% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% to 28.49 lakh crore (US$440 billion)
by 2027 (10% of GDP).[1] In October 2015, India's medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion. It is
projected to grow to $7–8 billion by 2020.[2] In 2014, 184,298 foreign patients traveled to India to seek medical treatment.[3]

About 88.90 lakh (8.89 million) foreign tourists arrived in India in 2016 compared to 80.27 lakh (8.027 million) in 2015,
recording a growth of 10.7%.[4][5][6] Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million in A UNESCO World Heritage Site and
2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011.[7] In 2014, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were the most popular states for one of the New7Wonders of the
tourists.[8] Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Agra and Jaipur have been the five most visited cities of India by foreign tourists during World, Taj Mahal in Agra is a
popular tourist destination
the year 2015. Worldwide, Delhi is ranked at 28 by the number of foreign tourist arrivals, while Mumbai is ranked at 30,
Chennai at 43, Agra at 45, Jaipur at 52 and Kolkata at 90.[9]

The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 ranks India 40th out of 136 countries overall. The report ranks the price
competitiveness of India's tourism sector 10th out of 136 countries. It mentions that India has quite good air transport (ranked
32nd), particularly given the country’s stage of development, and reasonable ground transport infrastructure (ranked 29th).
The country also scores high on natural and cultural resources (ranked 9th).[10] Some other aspects of its tourism
infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international
comparison and low ATM penetration.[11] The World Tourism Organization reported that India's receipts from tourism during Famous Hall of Thousand Pillars at
2012 ranked 16th in the world, and 7th among Asian and Pacific countries.[12] Meenakshi Amman Temple at
Madurai
The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry
consults and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various Central Ministries/agencies, state
governments, Union Territories and the representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to promote new
forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[13] The Ministry also maintains the Incredible India campaign
focused on promoting tourism.

Contents
Rani ki vav in Gujarat is a UNESCO
1 Visa policy of India
World Heritage Site
1.1 e-Tourist Visa
2 Statistics
2.1 Foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings
2.2 Foreign tourist arrivals by source country
2.3 Foreign and domestic tourist visits by State
3 World Heritage Sites
4 Gallery
5 Further reading
6 Outline of Tourism in India
7 References
8 External links Vamana temple at Khajuraho, a
UNESCO World Heritage Site with
its sculptural marvels

Visa policy of India

India requires citizens of most countries to have a valid passport and apply for a visa at their local Indian embassy or consulate,
before they travel. They can apply directly by mail or in person, or through their local travel services company. India has
recently implemented an online method for citizens of 40 countries to apply and receive an e-Tourist Visa.[14] Nationals of
Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal do not require a visa. Citizens of Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, DPR Korea, Jamaica,
Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa and Uruguay are not required to pay a fee when obtaining Indian visa.[15]

A Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required to enter the states of Nagaland and Sikkim and some parts of the states of Arunachal
Bactrian camel ride at Nubra Valley
Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Uttaranchal. A Restricted Area Permit in Ladakh
(RAP) is required to enter the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of Sikkim. Special permits are needed to enter
Lakshadweep Islands.[16]

e-Tourist Visa

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In order to boost tourism,[17] the Indian Government implemented a new visa policy in
November 2014 that allows visitors to obtain a visa on arrival at 16 designated international
airports by acquiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation online before arrival without having to
visit an Indian consulate or visa centre.[18] As a result, 56,477 tourists arrived on an e-Tourist
Visa during the October 2015 compared to 2,705 during October 2014, an increase of 1987.9%.
During January–October 2015 a total of 2,58,182 tourists arrived on an e-Tourist Visa as
compared with 21,995 during January–October 2014, an increase of 1073.8%.[19]

On 27 November 2014, India introduced its visa on arrival enabled by ETA facility for tourists
and business visitors, to citizens of following countries – Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cook
Islands, Djibouti, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Visa policy of India
Laos, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New India
Zealand, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Visa not required
Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, e-Tourist Visa
USA, Vanuatu and Vietnam.[14] The facility was extended to China, Macau and Hong Kong on Visa required
30 July 2015.[20] The facility was further extended to citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Armenia,
Aruba, Belgium, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, East Timor, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica,
Malta, Malaysia, Mongolia, Monaco, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Seychelles, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Surinam, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela on 15 August 2015.[21]

The visa on arrival requires a tourist to apply online on a secure Government of India website, at least 4 to 30 days before the date of travel. If approved, the passenger
must print and carry the approved visa with the travel documents. The visa allows holders of Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter and stay anywhere in India for
30 days. The ETA can be obtained twice in a single calendar year.[14] The visa on arrival facility is expected to be expanded to about 180 countries over time. In April 2015
the scheme was renamed to e-Tourist Visa in order to avoid confusion.[22]

Statistics

Foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings

Foreign tourist arrivals in India (1997- Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in India (1997-2016)[23]
2016)[23]
Year Amount (US$ million) % change Amount ( crores) % change
Year Number (millions) % change
1997 2,889 2.0 10,511 4.6
1997 2.37 3.8
1998 2,948 2.0 12,150 15.6
1998 2.36 -0.7
1999 3,009 2.1 12,951 6.6
1999 2.48 5.2
2000 3,460 15 15,626 20.7
2000 2.65 6.7
2001 3,198 -7.6 15,083 -3.5
2001 2.54 -4.2
2002 3,103 -3.0 15,064 -0.1
2002 2.38 -6.0
2003 4,463 43.8 20,729 37.6
2003 2.73 14.3
2004 6,170 38.2 27,944 34.8
2004 3.46 26.8
2005 7,493 21.4 33,123 18.5
2005 3.92 13.3
2006 8,634 15.2 39,025 17.8
2006 4.45 13.5
2007 10,729 24.3 44,360 13.7
2007 5.08 14.3
2008 11,832 10.3 51,294 15.6
2008 5.28 4.0
2009 11,136 -5.9 53,700 4.7
2009 5.17 -2.2
2010 14,193 27.5 64,889 20.8
2010 5.78 11.8
2011 16,564 16.7 77,591 19.6
2011 6.31 9.2
2012 17,737 7.1 94,487 21.8
2012 6.58 4.3
2013 18,445 4.0 1,07,671 14
2013 6.97 5.9
2014 20,236 9.7 1,23,320 14.5
2014 7.68 10.2
2015 21,071 4.1 1,35,193 8.8
2015 8.03 4.5
2016[24] 22,923 9.8 1,54,146 14.0
2016[24] 8.80 9.7

Foreign tourist arrivals by source country

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Source countries for foreign tourist arrivals in India in

2016[25]
Rank Country Number Share in %

1 Bangladesh 1,380,409 15.68

2 United States 1,296,939 14.73

3 United Kingdom 941,883 10.7

4 Canada 317,239 3.6

5 Malaysia 301,961 3.43

6 Sri Lanka 297,418 3.38

7 Australia 293,625 3.33

8 Germany 265,928 3.02

9 China 251,313 2.85

10 France 238,707 2.71

Total of top 10 5,585,422 63.43

Other countries 3,218,989 36.57
Grand total 8,804,411 100

Foreign and domestic tourist visits by State

Share of top 10 states/UTs of India in number of foreign Share of top 10 states/UTs of India in number of domestic
tourist visits in 2015[25] tourist visits in 2015[23]
Rank State/Union Territory Number Share in % Rank State/Union Territory Number Share in %
1 Tamil Nadu 4,684,707 20.1 1 Tamil Nadu 333,459,047 23.3
2 Maharashtra 4,408,916 18.9 2 Uttar Pradesh 204,888,457 14.3
3 Uttar Pradesh 3,104,062 13.3 3 Andhra Pradesh 121,591,054 8.5
4 Delhi 2,379,169 10.2 4 Karnataka 119,863,942 8.4
5 Rajasthan 1,489,500 6.4 5 Maharashtra 103,403,934 7.2
6 West Bengal 1,475,311 6.3 6 Telangana 94,516,316 6.6
7 Kerala 977,479 4.2 7 Madhya Pradesh 77,975,738 5.4
8 Bihar 923,737 4.0 8 West Bengal 70,193,450 4.9
9 Karnataka 636,502 2.7 9 Gujarat 36,288,463 2.5
10 Goa 541,480 2.3 10 Rajasthan 35,187,573 2.5
Total of top 10 states 20,620,863 88.4 Total of top 10 states 1,197,367,974 83.6
Others 2,705,300 11.6 Others 234,605,820 16.4
Total 23,326,163 100 Total 1,431,973,794 100

World Heritage Sites

There are 36 World Heritage Sites in India that are recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of August
2017.[26][27] These are places of importance of cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.[28]

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Mountain
Railways-
Kalka-Shimla
Great
Himalayan
National
The Nanda Devi
Park
Architectural and Valley of
Work of Le Flowers
Corbusier National
Parks
Qutub Minar Khangchendzonga
Humayun's Red Fort
National
Tomb
Park
Fatehpur
Hill Forts of Taj Mahal
Sikri
Rajasthan Agra Fort
Jantar
Keoladeo Mountain Kaziranga
Mantar, National Manas
Jaipur Railways- Wildlife National
Park Darjeeling Park
Sanctuary
Nalanda

Khajuraho Bodh Gaya

Rani ki vav

Historic City Bhimbetka

of Sanchi
Champaner- Stupa Rockshelters
Ahmadabad Pavagadh Sundarbans
National
Park
Ajanta
CavesEllora Caves
Sun Temple,
Konârak
Chhatrapati Elephanta
Shivaji Caves
Terminus

Western
Ghats
(Sahyadri)
Pattadakal

Churches Hampi
and
Convents of
Goa

Mountain Mahabalipuram
Western
Railways-
Ghats
Nilgiri
(Karnataka)
Western
Ghats Chola
(Nilgiri) Temples
Western
Ghats
(Kerala)

Location of World Heritage Sites within India ( )

Gallery

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Houseboat in Kerala backwaters Candolim beach in Goa Munshi Ghat in Varanasi Udaipur's City Palace Palitana

Kailasa Temple at Ellora Elephanta

Chaturbhuj Temple Jal Mandir at Shikharji Radhanagar Beach
Caves

Stone chariot in Hampi Gommateshwara Bengal tiger in Sundarbans

Sanchi Stupa

Chaturmukha Jain Temple Dilwara Temples Lotus Temple in Delhi Heritage train in Darjeeling

Mysore Palace illuminated at night Tso Moriri in Ladakh Mahabodhi Konark Sun Temple 1000 Pillar Temple

Morgan House, Kalimpong.

Further reading
Gupta, S. P., and Krishna Lal. 1974. Tourism, museums, and monuments in India. Delhi: Oriental Publishers. http://books.google.com/books?id=YNC1AAAAIAAJ.

Outline of Tourism in India

Tourism in India by state List of protected areas of India See also
List of World Heritage Sites in India List of aquaria in India
List of National Geo-heritage Monuments in India List of forts in India Economy of India
List of national parks of India List of forests in India Aviation in India

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List of lakes of India
List of waterfalls in India
List of State Protected Monuments in India
List of beaches in India
Incredible India
List of Geographical Indications in India
Medical tourism in India
List of botanical gardens in India
List of hill stations in India
List of gates in India
List of zoos in India
References
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World Travel and Tourism Council. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
2. "Indian medical tourism industry to touch $8 billion by 2020: Grant Thornton -
The Economic Times" (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/healthcar
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sites/default/files/FTA/Press_Note_FTAs_Dec_16.PDF) (PDF). Ministry of
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Ministry of Tourism (India). pp. 6, 7. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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9. Bremner, Caroline. "Top 100 City Destinations Ranking" (http://go.euromonitor.
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(Press release). Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 7 February
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Tourism Help Line (http://www.tourismcloud.org/contact)
Telangana Tourism (http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/), Government of India
India travel and tourism (https://dmoztools.net/Regional/Asia/India/Travel_and_Tourism) at DMOZ
Ministry of Tourism, India (http://www.tourism.gov.in/)
Visa on Arrival (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/), Government of India
Bradnock, Roma (2004). Footprint India (https://books.google.com/books?id=nWKaR6LbEGcC) Footprint Travel Guides, Bath, UK. ISBN 1-904777-00-7.
DeBruyn, Pippa; Bain, Keith; Venkatraman, Niloufer (2010). Frommer's India (https://books.google.com/books?id=qG-9cwHOcCIC).
"India in One, Two or Three Weeks" (http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/travel/through-indias-desert-cities-three-itineraries.html?smid=FB-nytimes&WT.mc_id=TR-
E-FB-SM-LIN-II1-032812-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click). The New York Times. 23 March 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tourism_in_India&oldid=808194451"
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Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
List of mosques in India
List of rock-cut temples in India
Wildlife sanctuaries of India
List of rivers of India
List of mountains in India
List of ecoregions in India
Coral reefs in India
List of stadiums in India
14. Tourist Visa on Arrival (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html)
Government of India (2014)
15. Indian Visa fee schedule for all nationalities (http://www.cgihk.gov.in/pdf/indian-
visa-fee-schedule-for-all-nationalities.pdf)
16. "Visa Information – India" (https://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_clie
nt.cgi?FullText=1&COUNTRY=IN&SECTION=VI&SUBSECTION=00&user=KL
MB2C&subuser=KLMB2C). Timatic. IATA. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
17. "India announces new visa rules to boost tourism numbers" (https://news.yaho
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Yahoo News. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
18. "India to extend visa-on-arrival to tourists from 180 countries" (http://zeenews.i
ndia.com/news/nation/india-to-extended-visa-on-arrival-to-tourists-from-180-co
untries_909348.html). Zee News. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
19. "1988 % growth registered in tourist visa-on-arrival in October" (http://timesofin
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er/articleshow/49829917.cms). The Times of India. 18 November 2015.
20. Extension of e-Tourist Visa scheme to China, Hong Kong and Macau from
tomorrow (http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=123908)
21. Press Note - Extension of e-Tourist Visa scheme to 36 more countries and 7
more airports from 15 August 2015 (https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Press_
Note_extension_to_36_countries.pdf)
22. "Government Changes Name of Visa on Arrival Scheme to E-Tourist Visa" (htt
p://www.ndtv.com/india-news/government-changes-name-of-visa-on-arrival-sch
eme-to-e-tourist-visa-754929). NDTV.com. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 9 June
2015.
23. "India Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2015" (http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/fil
es/Other/India%20Tourism%20Book%20English.pdf) (PDF).
24. [tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/FTA/FTAs%20and%20FEE%202014-16.xlsx
"Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from
Tourism in India during December 2016 and comparative figures of 2015 and
2014"] Check |url= value (help). tourism.gov.in. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
25. [tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/TOP%2015%20COUNTRIES.xlsx "India
Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2015"] Check |url= value (help). tourism.gov.in.
Ministry of Tourism. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
26. "Properties Inscribed on the World heritage List" (http://whc.unesco.org/en/stat
esparties/in). UNESCO. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
27. "World Heritage Day: Five must-visit sites in India" (http://www.hindustantimes.
com/travel/world-heritage-day-five-must-visit-sites-in-india/article1-1338551.as
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