TOURISM'S GRAND REVIVAL

Officials and industry leaders come together at the India Today Tourism Survey and Awards to discuss the sector’s future as it bounces back from the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic

- SONALI ACHARJEE

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.