NEW DELHI, October 20 — The Ministry of Tourism published the official 'India Tourism Statistics 2026' compendium on Monday, confirming that Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) have crossed 9.2 million while Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) surged past ₹2.42 Lakh Crore.
The analytical breakdown identified the United States, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Australia, and Canada as the primary tourist-generating markets for India. International footfalls were heavily stimulated by heritage circuit upgrades under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and the PRASHAD scheme, alongside a 24% expansion in international medical and wellness travelers visiting accredited tertiary hospitals under the government's 'Heal in India' campaign.
The Ministry reported unprecedented vitality in domestic tourism, recording over 2.1 billion domestic tourist visits across state circuits, creating over 12 million direct and indirect employment opportunities across hospitality, local artisanal transport, and culinary cottage industries.
The policy framework of Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and the PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) mission, the economic multiplier effects of the services sector, and e-Visa liberalization frameworks represent key study topics for UPSC GS-I (Culture) and GS-III (Economy).