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Travel & Tourism; Business & Entrepreneurship

Marketing Development Assistance Scheme

The Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme under the Overseas Promotion & Publicity (OPP) Scheme aims to support the promotion and marketing of Indian tourism in overseas markets.

Authority

Central

Region

Central Government

Status

Verified 2026

Updated

March 2026

What you get

For Tourism Service Providers | Financial support for study tours, and participation in travel shows/exhibitions/road shows in overseas markets (organized by the Ministry of Tourism) will be provided up to a maximum of ₹3,50,000/- per case/tour. | Sr. No. Particulars Extent of Support 1Economy class airfare for travel between India to another country and from there to a group of countries by air/rail.90%2Cost of built-up/furnished stall, electricity and water charges, participation fee, etc., at travel fair/exhibitions held overseas.90%3Lodging expenses on overseas tour Max. 5 nights with an upper ceiling of room rate at ₹10,000/- per night. | For Tourism Departments of State Governments / UT Administrations | Financial support for participation in overseas travel shows and exhibitions will be provided as follows: | Sr. No. Particulars Extent of Support1. Cost of built-up/furnished stall, electricity and water charges, participation fee, etc., at travel fair/exhibitions held overseas.Overall ceiling of ₹3,50,000/-. | - Since, the representatives of State Govts and UTs are provided TA/DA by the States/UTs, the provisions of financial assistance towards international air fare and lodging are not applicable to them. | For Tourism Service Providers /Tourism Departments of State Governments / UT Administrations | Financial support for online promotion of tourism destinations and products in overseas markets, including digital content creation, will cover 50% of the total cost, up to ₹1,00,000/- per financial year, subject to actuals.

Who can apply

The tourism service providers should be travel agents, inbound tour operators, tourist transport operators, classified hotels, classified bed & breakfast units, classified home stays, classified motels, guest houses & tented accommodation units, standalone restaurants, convention centers, and online aggregators, sales tours, participation in travel fairs/exhibitions and road shows (organized by Ministry of Tourism), online promotion of tourism destinations and products, tour packages in the overseas markets, including content creation/production of digital promotional brochures/leaflets etc.; The tourism service providers should be approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, or the concerned State / Union Territory Tourism Department.; The approved tourism service providers should show a minimum fee of ₹1.00 crore – ₹2.00 crore in any of the preceding two years i.e. 2018-19 or 2019-20, the number of tours may be limited to a maximum of two in one financial year.; The approved tourism service providers should show a minimum fee of ₹2.00 crore and above in one of the preceding two years i.e. 2018-19 or 2019-20, the number of tours may be limited to a maximum of three in one financial year.; Tourism departments of State Governments / UT Administrations are also eligible to avail benefits under the Scheme. However, the above eligibility conditions do not apply to them.

Required Paperwork

  • Aadhaar Card
  • PAN Card
  • Income Certificate
  • Residence Proof (Domicile)

Common Questions

What types of activities are covered under the scheme?

Sales tours, participation in travel fairs/exhibitions, online promotion, and digital content production are covered.

What is the financial support available for TSPs?

Up to 90% of air fare and travel fair costs, and lodging expenses up to [?]10,000 per night for a maximum of 5 nights, with an overall ceiling of [?]3.5 lakh per tour.

Who can apply for the MDA Scheme?

Approved Tourism Service Providers and State Governments/UT Administrations can apply.

How many tours can a TSP undertake in a year under the scheme?

TSPs with FEE of [?]1 crore to [?]2 crore can undertake up to 2 tours; those with FEE of [?]2 crore and above can undertake up to 3 tours.

What is the process for obtaining prior approval?

Submit the application and required documents at least 21 days before the tour via email to mda-tourism@gov.in.

How to claim reimbursement?

Submit the claim within 45 days of return, with required documents, via email to mda-tourism@nic.in.

Are there any specific travel conditions for availing air fare reimbursement?

Yes, travel should be on Air India for sectors directly connected by Air India; otherwise, economy class on shorter routes by other airlines is permissible.

Can financial support be claimed for the same activity from multiple sources?

No, the applicant should not have claimed/received financial assistance for the same activity from any other Government department or agency.

Is the scheme available for all TSPs?

Only TSPs approved by the Ministry of Tourism or State/UT Tourism Departments are eligible.

Can support be claimed for domestic travel?

No, the scheme is for international promotional activities only.

Are there any restrictions on who can undertake the tour from the company?

Only one person, specifically the CEO, Managing Director, Director, Managing Partner, Proprietor, or a regular employee, can undertake the tour.

Is prior approval a guarantee of financial support?

No, prior approval does not ensure financial support. Reimbursement is subject to the submission of complete claims and availability of funds.

How is the priority determined if there are more applications than available funds?

Priority is given to service providers who have not availed of financial assistance in the past under the MDA Scheme.