India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he was optimistic about the future of tourism ties between his country and Saudi Arabia, saying that many young Saudis choose India as a favored tourist destination, while a good number of Indian tourists traveled to Saudi Arabia last year, expecting further steady growth in this movement over the coming years.
Building on this, he affirmed his country’s commitment to establishing broad practical cooperation with Riyadh, covering key sectors including economy, culture, and tourism. He also highlighted a set of challenges facing the global tourism sector, calling for joint governmental efforts to strengthen its resilience and adopt sustainability principles.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the UN Tourism 26th General Assembly in Riyadh, the Indian minister said that global tourism is undergoing a major transformation that requires “stronger collaboration between governments and industry to enhance resilience, embrace sustainability, and ensure benefits are shared widely.” He looked forward to launching future joint production projects and initiatives with Saudi Arabia.
On this occasion, he congratulated Saudi Arabia for their successful hosting of the Assembly this year, noting that he had seized the opportunity to interact with his counterpart Ministers in Tourism and Culture during the visit, and to visit some prominent historical and cultural sites in the Kingdom.
Challenges Facing the Sector
The Indian minister acknowledged that the global tourism sector is going under a period of adjustment and facing multiple interconnected challenges, while international travel has rebounded post-pandemic, with many destinations still suffering from staff shortages, limited air connectivity, and uneven business recovery.
He added that climate change continues to pressure the sector to adopt sustainable practices, while geopolitical tensions and safety concerns affect traveler confidence. Tourists increasingly seek meaningful, tech-driven, and eco-conscious experiences, prompting destinations to rethink their travel offerings. Popular destinations face over-tourism, whereas emerging ones often lack the infrastructure for responsible growth. Persistent issues also include skills shortages, slow digital adoption among smaller operators, and the need for more inclusive and accessible tourism.
Tourism’s Economic Contribution
Regarding the size and economic contribution of tourism in India, and the steps taken by the Indian government to attract more foreign tourists, Shekhawat said that India is a prominent tourist destination and has shown consistent growth over the last few years.
He added that tourism contributes about 5% of the total GDP and supports close to 80 million direct and indirect jobs, serving as a principal source of foreign exchange earnings.
Shekhawat noted that his government has launched comprehensive reforms and focused investments to grow the tourism sector, including visa reforms, destination development, emphasis on healthcare and wellness tourism, and international partnerships.
He confirmed that India has opened the e-visa process where Saudi nationals can apply online and receive tourism visa within 72 hours.
India–Saudi Cooperation
Shekhawat emphasized that India and Saudi Arabia share deep-rooted cultural and historical ties based on centuries of exchange, trade, and people-to-people connections, stressing that cultural and tourism cooperation remain key pillars of our strategic partnership.
He said: “To further strengthen this bond, a Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation was established under the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during the State Visit of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to the Kingdom in April 2025.”
The Minister added: “During my current visit, I had a fruitful meeting with Saudi Minister of Culture, HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud and we also signed an MoU on Cultural Cooperation between our two countries. We discussed ways to enhance our cultural ties, promote exchanges between our cultural institutions, and intensify participation in each other’s cultural events and festival.”
Shekhawat concluded: “Many young Saudis choose India as a favored tourist destination, and a good number of Indian tourists traveled to Saudi Arabia last year. We expect these numbers to grow steadily over the coming years.”
