New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday unveiled an ambitious tourism vision in the Union Budget for 2025-26, reaffirming a 2023 pledge to develop 50 new destinations as engines of economic growth and employment. However, a closer look at the budget paints a more nuanced picture, with stagnant allocations and underutilized funds.

The budget has proposed an allocation Rs.2,430 crore for the sector for FY26, a modest rise from Rs.2,374 crore the previous year. Of this, the Swadesh Darshan scheme-which funds tourism infrastructure development-received Rs.1,900 crore, up from Rs.1,750 crore, though only Rs.350 crore was actually spent last year. Launched in 2014-15, this scheme provides financial assistance to st...