An Overview of Ministry of Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism in India is the nodal agency for promoting tourism in India. The Ministry of Tourism makes programmes, formulates national policies, and coordinates the activities of various central government agencies, state governments, union territories, and private agencies for the promotion of tourism in India.

Ministry of Tourism, India – Important Facts

The Ministry of Tourism in India is headed by the Union Minister for Tourism and Ministers of State.
Currently, the Minister of Tourism is G Kishan Reddy.
The Ministers of State for Tourism are Ajay Bhatt and Shripad Yesso Naik.
The Secretary of Tourism is the administrative head of the Ministry of Tourism.
India Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ITDC) is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Tourism.

Ministry of Tourism, India – Roles and Functions

Some of the roles and functions of the Ministry of Tourism are given below:

Infrastructure Development

More than fifty per cent of the Ministry of Tourism’s expenditure on plan schemes is incurred for the development of quality tourism infrastructure at various tourist destinations and circuits in the States/ UTs. The roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Tourism, India, under infrastructure development are given below:

Conventions and conferences
Hospitality programmes
Field publicity, marketing, and promotions
Tourist information and facilitation
Release of incentives

Coordinating the Activities of Field Offices and Their Supervision, Regulation:

Approval of tourist transport operators, inbound tour operators, travel agents, etc.
Approval and classification of restaurants and hotels.

International Co-operation and External Assistance

Foreign technical collaboration
External assistance
Bilateral agreements
International bodies

All Policy Matters

Investment facilitation
Promotion and marketing
Manpower development
Development policies

Top 10 Source Countries for Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India in 2020

The below given top 10 countries constitute around 66% of the total foreign tourist arrivals in India.

Bangladesh
United States of America
United Kingdom
Canada
Russia
Australia
France
Germany
Malaysia
Sri Lanka

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is the current Tourism Minister of India?

G Kishan Reddy is the current Tourism Minister of India. The Ministers of State (MoS) for tourism are Ajay Bhatt and Shripad Yesso Naik.

What are the 4 new types of tourism?

The 4 new types of tourism are wellness tourism, experiential tourism, food tourism, and sustainable tourism. The other popularly known 4 different types of tourism are adventure tourism, sports tourism, business tourism, and leisure tourism.

Who is the father of tourism?

Thomas Cook is known as the father of tourism. He is said to have invented modern tourism. Cook is the founder of the worldwide travel agency Thomas Cook and Son.

Which is the No. 1 tourist place in India?

There are many popular tourist places in India. It depends on the interest of the tourist. If a tourist wants a spiritual experience, then Kashi, Bodh Gaya, Dwaraka, and Somnath temples are some of the most popular tourist places in India. The other popular tourist destinations in India are the Statue of Unity, Red Fort, Taj Mahal, India Gate, Gateway of India, etc.

Which city has the most tourists in India?

The cities which are very popular with global tourists are Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, etc.

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Ministry of Tourism - India