Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made big announcements to boost the tourism sector in the country. In the latest budget update, the government has opened the doors of Mudra Loans for people running homestays. Along with this, a huge fund of Rs 20,000 crore has been announced to improve tourism infrastructure and create more jobs in this sector.
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Mudra Loans and Financial Support for Tourism
The government is focusing on rural and cultural tourism by helping small business owners. Now, homestay owners can also apply for loans under the Mudra Yojana to set up or expand their businesses. Industry bodies have also asked the government to increase the loan limit to Rs 40 lakh for these owners to make the process smoother.
Apart from individual loans, the Finance Minister allocated Rs 20,000 crore to states. This money will be used to develop 50 key tourist spots through a ‘Challenge Mode’ and improve connectivity. The total budget for the Tourism Ministry has also gone up significantly to Rs 2,541.06 crore for the financial year 2025-26.
Boost for Medical Tourism and Visa Rules
The government is also working to make India a hub for medical treatment under the ‘Heal in India’ campaign. To bring in more foreign patients, E-Visa rules are being simplified for specific groups. There are plans to offer visa fee waivers in some categories to attract more people.
Recent updates suggest that the government might offer Visa-on-Arrival facilities for visitors from developed countries like the USA and Europe. The medical tourism market in India is growing fast and is expected to reach $16.21 billion by the year 2030.
