Boost for infra, amenities at islands as ₹2,449cr allocated for tourism

Tourism infrastructure and amenities will be taken up in the country's islands, including Lakshadweep, to meet the "emerging fervour" for domestic tourism, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday.

- Vrinda Tulsian

Sitharaman also said that "our economic strength has made the country an attractive destination for business and conference tourism".

The finance minister was presenting the interim Union Budget for 2024-25 in Parliament, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this summer, when she made the announcements. An amount of ₹2,449.62 crore was allocated for the sector for 2024-25, a significant jump from the ₹1,692.10 crore that was projected to have been utilised, according to revised estimates for the current financial year. The budget estimate for 2023-24 was ₹2,400 crore.

"To address the emerging fervour for domestic tourism, projects for port connectivity, tourism infrastructure, and amenities will be taken up on our islands, including Lakshadweep. This will help in generating employment also," Sitharaman said in Parliament.