Modi Transforms Tourism into Statecraft: India's Cultural Wealth Becomes Global Soft Power

• Since 2014, PM Modi has strategically transformed India's tourism sector from a minor player into a powerful instrument of statecraft, projecting India's cultural wealth globally.
• Key initiatives include the expansion of the e-tourist visa scheme to 172 countries, significantly boosting international arrivals and foreign exchange earnings.
• Massive infrastructure investments of over Rs 9,225 crore in schemes like Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD have developed heritage sites such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Mahakaal Lok Project.
• India has leveraged its Buddhist heritage with projects like Kushinagar International Airport and the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini, positioning itself as a custodian of global Buddhist heritage.
• The global adoption of International Yoga Day and the strategic distribution of G20 events across India have further amplified India's cultural diplomacy and civilisational assertion on the world stage.

Why It Matters: PM Modi has elevated tourism to a core component of India's foreign policy, using cultural assets for global influence.