Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, GoI, said, “The government has approved the initiative to develop tribal homestays under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. The intervention includes the development of 1000 homestays with support of up to ₹5 lakh per unit (for new construction), up to ₹3 lakh (renovation), and ₹5 lakh for village community requirements.”

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With Holi just round the corner, Indian travellers are maximising the extended weekend by opting for a blend of vibrant domestic celebrations. According to Booking.com, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Rishikesh lead as the top three most searched domestic destinations while destinations like Vrindavan, Mathura, Pushkar, Jaipur, Shantiniketan and Hampi are witnessing a surge in searches during the festive period.

Highlighting the ways to promote tourism in India through concepts like ‘concert tourism’, Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister, Rajasthan, said, “We have come up with the concept of concert tourism in the state and try to organise as many such events as possible in the future as it is a growing industry that can have a huge impact on local economies.”  

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Tourism Minister, Govt of India has said that including hospitality infrastructure investment for tourism in the infrastructure master list would increase the payback period manifold. The old notification, which says that investment for 3-star hotels in areas with less than 1 million population, will automatically come in the list, he added.

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Federico J. Gonzalez, Executive Vice Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group, said, “India has the potential to be the number one hospitality market globally for Radisson Hotel Group.” The economic growth in India is significant. But, besides the economic growth and the growth in population and infrastructure, the ambition and dynamism of Indians is one of a kind. The hotel chain should aim to have 500 hotels in the country by 2030, he added.

From lush mountains to pristine islands, 2025 is the year of eco-conscious tourism, authentic experiences, and mindful exploration. According to the Agoda 2025 Sustainable Travel Survey, India has emerged as the second-most sustainability-conscious travel market in Asia, with a staggering 82% of Indian travellers making eco-friendly choices—far surpassing the Asian average of 68%. India’s Sikkim is among the top sustainable travel destinations for 2025.

KR Naidu, Aviation Minister, GoI, said, “We are going to extend the UDAN scheme for another 10 years starting from April 2027. During the 10 years, 120 new destinations will be added to the existing ones. The scheme will benefit 4 crore people, just like how we have seen addition of 1.5 crore people in the last 8 years.”  

Participating in the Winter Tourism Program in Uttarakhand, PM Narendra Modi said, “There should be no off-season in the picturesque hill state and this would strengthen the state’s economy in a big way, making a strong pitch for round the year tourism. The government’s vision of round the year tourism will strengthen the economy and create jobs for the youth.”