Domestic tourism powering travel boom, but foreign visitor spending flat, says apex tourism body
Distilled Policy Brief
- India's domestic tourism spending has outpaced international visitor spending since 2019, with a 37% rise to ₹17.7 trillion ($202.5 billion) compared to a flat ₹2.9 trillion ($32.9 billion) in international visitor spending.
- International visitor spending in India is expected to increase by only 15.3% to ₹3.3 trillion ($37.9 billion) in 2026 compared to 2019 levels, while the rupee has devalued by approximately 26.92% against the US dollar from 2019 to July 2026.
- The World Travel & Tourism Council calls for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to boost inbound tourism and help India capture a fair share of international spend.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the bilateral research and industrial cooperation engagements between India and Germany, consider the following statements: 1. Roundtables held with German research organizations, such as the Fraunhofer Institutes, prioritized key fields including microelectronics, power electronics, and smart manufacturing. 2. Expanding industry-academia innovation networks and collaboration in battery technologies form key components of the enhanced strategic cooperation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct. High-level roundtables with German research institutes, including Fraunhofer Institutes, focused on microelectronics, power electronics, smart manufacturing, battery technologies, and logistics. Furthermore, the engagement emphasized strengthening industry-academia innovation networks, science and technology cooperation, and advanced manufacturing capabilities between India and Germany.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.