Policy Update
Kiranmanonmani Y
Introduction
‘India is the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen once by even a glimpse, would not give the glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined’ – Mark Twain. This quote is one example of India’s tourism greatness, and for ages, India has been the one land that every person wishes to visit at least once in their lifetime. The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has been taking various steps to boost tourism and make the process of visiting places easier through online registration processes. Currently, the Ministry of Tourism is headed by Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as the Union Minister and by Mr. Suresh Gopi as Minister of State.
Digital India Scheme
The Digital India scheme aims to provide digital services to the citizens of India in administrative matters. It saves more time for people, not having to stand in queues, which wastes time, money, and energy. They get access to the government services online. Under this Digital India scheme, the Ministry of Tourism, along with MeitY, works together to improve tourism facilities, booking, and accommodation processes online, and not having to face difficulties when visiting a tourist spot by completing the processes beforehand.
Ministry of Tourism
The tourism industry is one of the complex sectors that involves various stakeholders at various levels, such as the Central government, state governments, media and press, citizens, etc.. It also acts as a main source of livelihood for many people, irrespective of literacy. The Ministry of Tourism has been working relentlessly to ease the process for tourists to have a great vacation without any hassle during their travel and stay. In order to achieve the objective of harnessing information across the centre and states, and also among the tourism service providers, destinations, and tourists, the Digital Tourism Mission was started in 2022, and the digital tourism platform is a part of this mission.
Key guiding principles underpin the development of this digital tourism framework
- Ecosystem Thinking: All digital initiatives are designed as comprehensive ecosystems, spanning central and state governments, public and private sectors, composed of autonomous, interoperable, and federated systems. This approach emphasizes participatory design and end-user engagement at every stage.
- Building Block Approach: The architecture is built on minimal and reusable “Building Blocks” – self-contained functionalities delivered via APIs – that are loosely coupled and combinable, promoting efficiency and scalability. These include Core, Common, and Reference Building Blocks, with core blocks serving as public goods for interoperability.
- Federated Architecture: Embracing a federated model ensures resilience and flexibility, preventing single points of failure and allowing continuous evolution without major upgrades.
- Openness and Interoperability: A commitment to open standards, licenses, databases, and APIs is crucial to foster inter-platform efficiencies, encourage competition, and prevent monopolies.
- Data as an Asset & Privacy-by-Design: The mission recognizes data as a valuable asset, advocating for data marketplaces and clear policies for regulated data sharing, all while embedding privacy protection from the outset. Security and trust are paramount in every interaction.
Incredible India Digital Platform(IIDP)
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has launched the revamped version of the Digital Tourism Platform as the Incredible India Digital Platform, which uses AI-powered tools to provide a seamless user experience to tourists regarding the weather updates, places to see, and many other useful information during their travel. It also collaborates with online travel agents(OTAs) to assist tourists with prebooking of transportation and accommodation. This platform offers suggestions about various travel destinations of India under various categories such as spiritual, wellness, heritage, adventure, etc.. There is also an option to filter the destinations by regions such as north, south, east, and west India, as well as by each state. The topmost taskbar has three main options that are:
- Destination
- Experiences
- Plan your trip
Destination: Under the destination tab, users are enabled to explore the various tourist attractions of India by regions, states, and union territories, by particular cities and spots, and national parks. When you search for a particular city or state, you get a complete glimpse of that place, including its history, major tourist attractions, cultural and culinary significance, and how to get there.
Experiences: Under the experiences tab, users are able to get information about the adventure activities, bird watching, and many other related activities region-wise.
Plan your trip: Under the Plan your trip tab, there are three different categories, which are practical information, travel, and explore India. This enables users to plan their trip to any part of the country.
Practical Information
- Weather
- Tourism information centre
- Emergency numbers
- Public holidays
- Currency converter
Travel
- Visa guide
- Airport info
- Travel partners
Explore India
- Itineraries & packages
- Festivals & events
- Rural tourism
- Exquisite crafts
- People and culture
Conclusion
The “Incredible India” digital platform significantly enhances the tourism experience by offering a comprehensive, user-friendly interface for travelers. It provides a wealth of information, booking facilities, and personalized services, leveraging AI and strategic partnerships to create seamless and engaging journeys. By focusing on accessibility, efficiency, and rich content, the platform solidifies India’s position as a leading global destination, attracting and delighting visitors from around the world.
The platform’s success lies in its ability to cater to diverse traveler needs. The revamped “Incredible India Content Hub” provides access to high-quality multimedia resources for various stakeholders, including tour operators and content creators. AI-powered tools personalize travel experiences by offering real-time updates and travel recommendations. Furthermore, partnerships with online travel agents streamline booking processes for flights, hotels, and local transportation.
Ultimately, the digital platform’s continuous development, focusing on crowdsourcing and partnerships, ensures it remains a dynamic and valuable resource for anyone exploring the diverse and captivating landscapes of India. It effectively blends the richness of Indian culture and heritage with cutting-edge technology, promising a truly “Incredible” experience for all.
References
- Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. (2022, September). Report on National Digital Tourism Mission. https://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/National%20Digital%20Tourism%20Mission_2022.pdf
- Press Information Bureau. (2025, July 24). Digital transformation in tourism services. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2147789
- Incredible India website – https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en
About the Contributor:
Kiranmanonmani. Y is an Economics Hons student at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, and a research intern at Impact and Policy Research Institute(IMPRI).
Acknowledgment:
The author would like to express sincere gratitude to Ms.Aasthaba Jadeja and the IMPRI team for their guidance throughout the writing of this article.
Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.
