Sustainable Tourism
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
The Ministry of Tourism, is the nodal agency for the formulation of national policies and programs and for the co-ordination of activities of various Central Government Agencies, State Governments/UTs and the Private Sector for the development and promotion of tourism in the country.
The Strategy and Product Development division in the Ministry of Tourism is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the Tourism Assets Bank, leading research, content collation and overall strategy formulation. It oversees partnerships with private sector entities, start-ups and other stakeholders to enhance attractions and experiences, while ensuring inter-ministerial convergence across tourist touchpoints.
The division drives various initiatives, including the Central Nodal Agencies for Sustainable Tourism, Rural Tourism and Homestays, Adventure Tourism and Eco-Tourism. It also spearheads programs such as 'Meet in India' for MICE tourism, 'Heal in India' for AYUSH and Wellness Tourism, 'India Says I Do' for Wedding Tourism and Mega Adventure Trails.
In order to mainstream sustainability in the Indian tourism sector, safeguard the country’s natural and cultural resources and build a more resilient, resource-efficient, inclusive and carbon-neutral tourism industry, the Ministry of Tourism launched the National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism on 29th April 2022. The vision behind this strategy was to position India as a preferred global destination for sustainable and responsible tourism.
The Strategy under Governance puts forth the establishment of a National Level Nodal Agency for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of initiatives and for mainstreaming sustainable tourism in the Indian tourism sector. This led to the formation of the Central Nodal Agency for Sustainable Tourism (CNA-ST), as a technical support to the Ministry.