Now Reading: India cuts heritage spending as foreign tourist arrivals fall 9%
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India cuts heritage spending as foreign tourist arrivals fall 9%
India's spending on conservation of centrally protected monuments has declined from a peak of Rs 444 crore in FY24, data tabled in Parliament by culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shows.…
The Story in Brief
India's spending on conservation of centrally protected monuments has declined from a peak of Rs 444 crore in FY24, data tabled in Parliament by culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shows. Funding for iconic sites such as Agra, Aurangabad, and Hampi each fell by a third or more in the next two years. The cuts come as foreign tourist arrivals dropped 9.4% year-on-year to 9.02 million in 2025, still well below the pre-pandemic level of 11 million in 2019.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that India values its cultural heritage is contradicted by volatile and declining conservation budgets. While the government launches flashy campaigns like 'As Seen On Netflix' with a streaming giant, it starves the Archaeological Survey of India of predictable funds. Heritage experts point out that even small, preventive investments can protect lesser-known monuments. The real test will be whether next year's budget reverses this trend or proves that heritage is only a photo op, not a priority.
Source: livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
