The budgetary allocation for the ministry of tourism has been slashed from ₹ 2,500 crore in 2020-21 to ₹ 2026.77 crore this year, in a blow to the tourism industry which is reeling from huge losses due to the coronavirus crisis.
The revised estimate for the ministry was ₹ 1,260 crore.
The budget has allocated ₹ 1088.03 crore for development of tourism infrastructure.
With the coronavirus crisis restricting not just foreign tourist footfalls into the country but also keeping domestic travellers at bay, the budget has focused on pushing funds for promotion and publicity to help attract tourists.
Out of the ₹ 668.72 crore allocated towards promotion and publicity, ₹ 524.02 crore is for the overseas market and ₹ 144.70 crore has been kept for domestic tourists.
“I am thankful to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister for giving us a budget which is pro-tourism. It is a budget which shows confidence in the self and a budget which is self-reliant,” Union Tourism minister Prahlad Patel told reporters.
“For tourism, we primarily have two schemes PRASAD and Swadesh Darshan which have both been continued this year. A new scheme of iconic sites has also been introduced. Infrastructure is significant for tourism and this budget has talked of air connectivity to smaller cities. This will benefit tourism,” he said.