MoSPI's Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey 2025-26: pilgrimage tops overnight trips, business trips cost the most
On 23 September 2026, MoSPI released the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey (July 2025–June 2026), which found that 48% of overnight trips in the last 365 days were for pilgrimage and religious purposes.
Summary
The Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey (DTES) was conducted by the National Statistics Office as part of the NSS 80th round, and its findings were released in the report 'Domestic Tourism in India'. The DTES found that, for overnight trips in the last 30 days, 89 of every 100 were for social purposes, while business trips had the highest average spending at ₹5,949 per trip. Social (33%) and shopping (26%) were the most common same-day trips. Rural tourist households made 127 overnight trips per 100 households and urban tourist households 132, up from 118 and 121 in 2014-15.
Key facts
- Survey
- Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey, July 2025–June 2026, NSS 80th round, by NSO
- Top purpose (365 days)
- Pilgrimage & religious, 48% of overnight trips; health & medical next
- Last 30 days
- 89 of 100 overnight trips for social purposes; business trips highest spend, ₹5,949 per trip
- Same-day trips
- Social 33%, shopping 26%
- Trips per 100 tourist households
- Rural 127 (118 in 2014-15); urban 132 (121 in 2014-15)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
As per the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey 2025-26, which purpose accounted for the highest share (48%) of overnight trips in the last 365 days?
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Correct answer: D — Pilgrimage and religious
About 48 of every 100 overnight trips in the last 365 days were for pilgrimage and religious purposes.
The Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey released in September 2026 was conducted as part of which NSS round?
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Correct answer: D — 80th round
The survey was conducted from July 2025 to June 2026 as part of the NSS 80th round.
As per the DTES 2025-26, which type of overnight trip had the highest average household expenditure per trip?
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Correct answer: A — Business trips
Business trips recorded the highest average expenditure per trip, ₹5,949, for overnight trips made in the last 30 days.
Consider the following findings of the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey 2025-26: 1. Shopping was the most frequently undertaken type of same-day trip. 2. Overnight trips per 100 urban tourist households fell compared with 2014-15. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2
Neither is correct. Social trips (33%) were the most common same-day trips, ahead of shopping (26%). Urban trips per 100 tourist households rose from 121 to 132.