There's more to Indian tourism than just the Taj Mahal, the palaces of Rajasthan, the beaches of Goa or the backwaters of Kerala. A growing number of tourists are looking for lesser-known gems: the Triyuginarayan Temple in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, the spot where Shiva and Parvati are said to have got married, has become a popular wedding destination, while the beach town of Konark in Odisha, which used to be a day's trip, now has people visiting for four-five days, thanks to the Eco Retreat 'glam camp' started just a few years ago. India's tourism sector is recognising the potential of the local', and it is this idea that resonated among officials and industry leaders who came together at the 2023 INDIA TODAY Tourism Survey and Awards to discuss the future of the sector as it makes a grand comeback after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2019, India received nearly 11 million foreign tourists and 1.8 billion domestic tourists. Though the sector did suffer a setback during the pandemic, tourist numbers are almost back to pre-Covid-19 levels now. "Inbound tourism has picked up and domestic tourism has seen tremendous growth. New spots where tourism infrastructure has been built up are witnessing growth," says Arvind Singh, secretary, ministry of tourism.
This story is from the March 13, 2023 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 13, 2023 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Shuttle Star
Ashwini Ponnappa was the only Indian to compete in the inaugural edition of BDMNTN-XL, a new international badminton tourney with a new format, held in Indonesia
There's No Planet B
All Living Things-Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) returns with 72 films to be screened across multiple locations from Nov. 22 to Dec. 8
AMPED UP AND UNPLUGGED
THE MAHINDRA INDEPENDENCE ROCK FESTIVAL PROMISES AN INTERESTING LINE-UP OF OLD AND NEW ACTS, CEMENTING ITS REPUTATION AS THE 'WOODSTOCK OF INDIA'
A Musical Marriage
Faezeh Jalali has returned to the Prithvi Theatre Festival with Runaway Brides, a hilarious musical about Indian weddings
THE PRICE OF FREEDOM
Nikhil Advani’s adaptation of Freedom at Midnight details our tumultuous transition to an independent nation
Family Saga
RAMONA SEN's The Lady on the Horse doesn't lose its pace while narrating the story of five generations of a family in Calcutta
THE ETERNAL MOTHER
Prayaag Akbar's new novel delves into the complexities of contemporary India
TURNING A NEW LEAF
Since the turn of the century, we have lost hundreds of thousands of trees. Many had stood for centuries, weathering storms, wars, droughts and famines.
INDIA'S BEATING GREEN HEART
Ramachandra Guha's new book-Speaking with Nature-is a chronicle of homegrown environmentalism that speaks to the world
A NEW LEASE FOR OLD FILMS
NOSTALGIA AND CURIOSITY BRING AUDIENCES BACK TO THE THEATRES TO REVISIT MOVIES OF THE YESTERYEARS
