India saw the arrival of 1,282 million domestic and 22.57 million foreign tourists in the year 2013-14. Tourism in India accounts for 6.8% of the GDP, and is the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country with USD 18.13 Billion.
The Government of India has taken following initiatives and policies to grow rural tourism
Rural Tourism Infrastructure Development Component under PIDDC scheme – Promoting Village Tourism
Swadesh Darshan – Positioning Tourism as an Engine of Growth
Scheme for Organizing Fair, Festival and Tourism related events – Domestic Promotion & Publicity including Hospitality (DPPH)
Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSRT), Ministry of Tourism
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) – Developing Human Capital
A few more organizations in this domain, functional across the country are: DHAN Foundation (National Award for Best NGO Promoting Tourism by Ministry of Tourism), Blue Yonder, Travel Another India, Culture Aangan, Ecospiti, Baramati Agri Tourism, Village Ways and Eco Login.
