Suman Billa said the government’s target aligned with the vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The 15th Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB), a leading travel trade show, which ended in Jaipur on Tuesday, saw the participation of about 200 foreign buyers from 50 nations and the organisers claim that over 10,000 B2B meetings had been organised during the three-day show.
At the inaugural function of the show, held from April 26-28, the Indian government outlined plans for the tourism sector, stating that it aimed to ensure that the contribution of the tourism sector to the national Gross Domestic Product is doubled from the current 5.22 pc within the next 10 years.
In a press statement, the organisers say that addressing stakeholders, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary and Director General at the Ministry of Tourism, said the government’s target aligned with the vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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“That is the goal and we need to ensure that we achieve it,” he said, pointing to infrastructure expansion and rising travel demand as key drivers.
According to a press statement, to reach the 10 pc GDP target, the Ministry urged industry stakeholders to expand hotel capacity and develop destinations that meet international standards.
Suman Billa
The statement adds that the government’s confidence rests largely on transport growth. Since 2014, the number of airports in India has doubled from 75 to 150. Aviation capacity is expected to expand further, with aircraft fleet size projected to reach 1,600 by 2030, up from around 800 currently. Rail connectivity has also improved, with semi-high-speed trains such as the Vande Bharat Express positioned as facilitators of domestic tourism. Road networks have expanded in parallel, improving access to destinations across regions.
Domestic travel remains the backbone of the sector. According to Billa, domestic tourist visits have risen sharply from 1.5 billion a decade ago to over 4 billion in 2025. He claimed that international arrivals have also increased, doubling from about 10 million in 2014 to 20 million. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism currently stand at USD 32 billion.
Despite these gains, officials maintain that the sector is operating below its potential. India’s share of global tourism remains modest relative to its geographic scale and cultural diversity. The government sees room for growth, particularly in attracting higher-spending international travellers and reducing outbound tourism.