Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Begins Dehradun Airport's International Expansion
- 23 Apr 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
In a significant effort to boost inbound tourism, the Uttarakhand government is working on transforming Dehradun into an international airport.
Key Points
- The state government has called for proposals from airlines to run subsidized non-stop flights between Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and Kathmandu.
- Reports suggest that the central government supports this initiative to tap into India's ability to become a global tourist destination.
- Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in 2019 totaled around 1.1 crore. In 2022, this number decreased to 62 lakh, but in 2023 it increased to 92.4 lakh.
- The industry is discussing strategies to surpass the 2019 FTA levels by enhancing international connectivity, introducing new tourism routes, and simplifying visa procedures.
- Ambitious strategies are underway to position India as a key global aviation center with major airlines like IndiGo and Tata Group Air India alongside significant hubs.
- By connecting the capital cities of Nepal and Uttarakhand, this endeavour not only fortifies historical ties but also unlocks new avenues for tourism, commerce, and cultural exchange.
- India has doubled the number of airports since 2014 and many of them will increasingly get international status to have direct flights at least from nearby catchment countries.
