Shekhawati Industries Ltd. Share Price

Union Minister Shekhawat at ASSOCHAM Tourism Conclave

Addressing the ASSOCHAM National Tourism Conclave in New Delhi, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that India's tourism sector has evolved beyond simple recreation to become a primary economic driver and key employment generator. Despite global geopolitical headwinds, domestic tourism expanded by 12.5% last year, recording over 428 crore domestic visits alongside 2.53 crore foreign tourist arrivals. Minister Shekhawat emphasized that enhancing destination management, elevating tourist experiences, and scaling capacity building for frontline personnel—such as guides, taxi drivers, and hospitality staff—are vital to translating the ethos of Atithi Devo Bhava into tangible, high-quality service delivery. To sustain this momentum, the government is developing 50 new tourist destinations to relieve congestion at traditional hotspots, broaden visitor experiences, and attract additional private capital into lesser-known regions. The conclave also marked the release of the joint ASSOCHAM-CBRE report, Reimagining Indian Tourism: Unlocking the Next Wave of Growth, which outlines how infrastructure connectivity and high-growth niches—including spiritual, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), wellness, cruise, rural, and wildlife tourism—are creating fresh investment channels. ASSOCHAM President Nirmal Kumar Minda underscored that the sector stands at a critical inflection point as India advances toward building a ₹94.97 lakh crore ($1 trillion) tourism economy.

23,000 Experiences & Homestays to Join ONDC by 2028

To mark World Tourism Day at Bharat Mandapam, Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the National Digital Tourism Stack—a national digital public infrastructure developed in partnership with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and supported by the International Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure Innovation and Advancement (ICDIA). Designed to unify India's fragmented tourism offerings onto a shared open platform, the initiative aims to make 23,000 homestays and unique travel experiences discoverable, trustworthy, and directly bookable by the end of 2028. Implemented in phases across states, Union Territories, and private industry partners, the platform will leverage artificial intelligence at its front end to streamline travel logistics. According to Tourism Secretary Bhuvnesh Kumar, the ultimate vision is to establish a seamless "One ticket, One pass" system that integrates bookings, itinerary planning, and payments into a single digital journey. By eliminating paperwork and boosting the visibility of small-scale homestays and regional tourism providers, the ecosystem seeks to enhance traveler confidence while modernizing India's tourism sector.

India Partners with Netflix to Boost Creative Economy and Cultural Tourism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos in New Delhi to discuss strategies for bolstering India's creative economy and establishing the country as an international hub for media and content creation. To celebrate a decade of operations in the country, the streaming giant launched the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative. This program aims to train and upskill future creative professionals through education partnerships with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), helping expand the global visibility of local talent and narratives. In a parallel effort to drive cultural tourism, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism have teamed up with Netflix India to showcase the nation's rich heritage. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat unveiled the "As Seen on Netflix" feature on the Incredible India web portal, allowing international viewers to discover the authentic filming locations, traditions, and cultural experiences shown in popular series and movies. Together, these initiatives seek to boost tourism, empower local storytellers, and elevate India's standing in the global entertainment sector.

Tourism sector estimated to grow at over 25% CAGR

Global Engagement Scheme to promote Indian Art and Culture

The Ministry of Culture has launched the Global Engagement Scheme to promote India’s rich cultural heritage and enhance its global image. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties with foreign nations, foster bilateral cultural contacts, and boost inbound tourism. Administered through Indian Missions abroad, the scheme comprises key components like the Festival of India, which provides Indian artists an opportunity to perform on international platforms across diverse cultural fields such as folk art, classical music, traditional dance, and theatre. Additionally, the scheme offers grant-in-aid to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies to promote friendship and cultural exchange. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is pivotal in promoting Indian culture through yoga, dance, music, language classes, exhibitions, and international conferences. The Ministry of Culture has empanelled 627 artists and groups, with performance fees set at Rs. 35,000 (US$ 403.31) for the lead artist and Rs. 7,000 (US$ 80.66) for accompanying artists. Furthermore, the Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists Scheme provides up to Rs. 6,000 (US$ 69.14) per month to support elderly and economically disadvantaged artists aged 60 and above. This initiative was announced by the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in the Lok Sabha.

Total foreign tourist arrivals stood at 9.52 million in 2023: Govt

In a recent statement to Parliament, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that the tourism sector contributed 5% to India's gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2022-23. This figure is consistent with the sector's contribution of 5.01% in 2018-19, although it experienced a decline during the pandemic, dropping to 1.50% in 2020-21 and slightly increasing to 1.75% in 2021-22. The minister also reported that India saw a total of 9.52 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, with 46.2% of these visitors traveling for leisure and recreation, while the Indian diaspora represented 26.9% of the total arrivals. Furthermore, to enhance medical tourism, the government has introduced e-medical visa and e-medical attendant visa options for nationals from 167 countries, making it easier for foreign patients to seek medical treatment in India. In response to questions regarding the potential impact of rising airfares on domestic tourism, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat clarified that the Ministry of Tourism has not conducted any recent studies to evaluate this issue.