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Key Points

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stressed tourism's vital role in India's economy during his address at Skal India National Congress 2025. He called for significant improvements in infrastructure and safety measures, particularly for women tourists. Tharoor specifically highlighted the need for more mid-range hotel options to bridge the gap between luxury and budget accommodations. His comments come as reports project India's tourism sector could reach nearly $60 billion by 2028, driven by domestic travel growth.

Key Points: Shashi Tharoor Urges Tourism Infrastructure and Safety Reforms

  • Tharoor emphasizes tourism's role in job creation and government revenue
  • Calls for deploying more women police to improve safety for female tourists
  • Highlights the need for mid-range hotel development between luxury and budget options
  • Projects India's tourism sector to reach nearly USD 60 billion by 2028
2 min read

Tourism is very important.. gives employment to people: Congress' Shashi Tharoor at Skal India National Congress 2025

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlights tourism's economic importance, calls for better infrastructure, women's safety, and mid-range hotels to boost India's growth.

"Tourism is very important. This gives employment to the people. It will increase revenue for the government. - Shashi Tharoor"

Mumbai, September 13

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday highlighted the importance of tourism for India's economy, and said it provides jobs and increases government revenue.

Tharoor called for improved infrastructure, enhanced safety for women tourists, and the development of more mid-range hotels.

Speaking to the reporters at Skal India National Congress 2025, Shashi Tharoor said, "We have a lot of things to do. Tourism is very important. This gives employment to the people. It will increase revenue for the government. We need to improve our infrastructure."

Tharoor also stressed the need to change the global image of India as unsafe for women by deploying more women police officers in tourist areas.

"Our nation has an image that India is not safe for women. We need to change this image. We have to do something about it. More women police officers must be deployed in the tourist areas... We either have high-end 5-star hotels or extremely poor quality; there is nothing in between. We need to construct a lot," Tharoor said.

India's tourism and hospitality sector is set to witness record growth, with projections indicating the industry could reach nearly USD 60 billion by 2028, according to a report by IDBI Capital.

The report highlighted that domestic tourism will be the main driver of this growth. The number of domestic visitors is expected to double from 2.5 billion in 2024 to 5.2 billion by 2030, translating into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4 per cent.

It stated, "We remain positive on domestic hospitality space led by demand-supply mismatch, FTA, increased corporate travel, and MICE will aid RevPAR growth... Tourism and Hospitality Sector Poised for Record Growth, Projecting Nearly Sixty Billion by 2028."

The report, mentioning the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) estimate, also predicted a significant increase in visitor spending.

It is estimated that spending by both domestic and international travellers will almost triple to Rs 33.95 trillion by 2034. This strong growth will be supported by better connectivity across the country, with developments in air, road, and rail infrastructure playing a key role in boosting travel.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Safety for women tourists is crucial. As a travel guide in Rajasthan, I've seen foreign women hesitate to explore alone. More women police officers at tourist spots would make a huge difference!
M
Michael C
Visited India last year and completely agree about the accommodation gap. Either luxury hotels or very basic options. Mid-range comfortable hotels would attract more budget-conscious international travelers.
A
Ananya R
While I appreciate the focus on tourism, we need better implementation. Many schemes announced but ground reality different. Cleanliness at tourist sites remains a major issue that needs addressing first.
S
Siddharth J
Domestic tourism is the real game changer! With improved rail and road connectivity, middle-class Indians are traveling more than ever. This creates jobs in tier 2 and 3 cities too 👍
K
Kavya N
Tharoor is right about infrastructure. Our airports are world-class but the journey from airport to tourist destinations needs improvement. Better roads and public transport would help tremendously.

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