50 Indian cities to be designed for International tourism:India aims for all-season tourist hub; Tier 2-3 cities’ forex to grow

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday, including several measures to boost tourism. She announced that the infrastructure of 50 cities will be upgraded to world-class standards to attract international tourists. The plan aims to make India a year-round global tourist hub. This initiative will create an ecosystem that strengthens the economies of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and villages, increase foreign exchange earnings, and promote India’s cultural identity. Tourism Budget ₹2,438.40 Crore The government has allocated ₹2,438.40 crore to promote tourism. The aim is to attract 10 crore foreign tourists to India by 2047. By 2034, tourism could contribute ₹43.25 lakh crore to India’s GDP and employ 6.3 crore people. According to the Ministry of Tourism’s India Tourism Statistics Report, around 1 crore foreign tourists visit India each year, of which 67% are Buddhist tourists. Last year, 7.10 lakh Buddhist tourists visited India. A budget of ₹6,812 crore has been allocated for the development of Northeast India, which is 20% more than last year. The Buddhist Circuit will be developed in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Focus on Temple Cities In cities identified as temple cities, basic facilities will be upgraded to meet international tourist standards. Also Read | Finance Minister announces higher securities transaction tax Digital data will be prepared Through the National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid, digital information about Indian tourist destinations will be created. This will help attract more foreign tourists. At the local level, this initiative will increase employment opportunities for researchers, historians, content creators, hotel staff, guides, transport providers, local artisans, home-stay owners, and technical professionals. Preparation to become an all-season destination The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will provide 12 weeks of training to 10,000 guides at 20 major tourist destinations across India. Airport luggage rules will be simplified, and the National Institute of Hospitality will be set up to train skilled staff. Seaplanes will now be manufactured domestically, with government subsidies available for their operation through the Seaplane VGF scheme. 15 Archaeological sites to be developed as International-Level Tourist destinations Fifteen archaeological sites, including Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Sarnath, Leh Palace, Adichanallur, and Hastinapur, will be developed as Experiential Cultural Destinations. Tourists will be able to experience history in a living form, with walkways and immersive storytelling techniques designed to enhance the visitor experience. Big Cat summit to be held in India India will host the first ‘Global Big Cat Summit’ this year. Two years ago, in 2024, India launched the International Big Cat Alliance. The initiative focuses on the conservation of tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, and pumas. Heads of 95 countries will come together to discuss a joint strategy for protecting these animals. Branding through adventure Tourism Mountain trekking routes will be developed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu Kashmir and promoted as adventure tourism destinations. Additional trails will be built in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats. Turtle trails will be created in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala, while bird-watching trails will be developed in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. These initiatives will promote environmental conservation through sustainable tourism models. Also Read | Healthcare budget crosses ₹1 lakh crore: Govt extends support to rare disease