Optimizing Indian Tourism and Cultural Heritage: Bridging Policy Gaps through Integrated Governance, Agrotourism, and Regenerative Development

India’s unparalleled wealth of cultural, natural, and intangible heritage positions tourism as a transformative driver of inclusive economic growth, rural development, and international engagement. Despite contributing significantly to GDP and livelihoods, the sector remains under-optimized due to fragmented governance, limited community participation, and gaps in sustainability implementation. This study critically examines the evolution of India’s tourism and cultural heritage policies (2020–2025), evaluates agrotourism initiatives, and benchmarks international governance models from Spain, Bhutan, and Japan. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining GIS-based site evaluation, stakeholder consultations, and comparative case studies the research identifies six systemic policy gaps: fragmented governance, inadequate local ownership, weak formal recognition of agrotourism, commercialization of heritage without sufficient safeguards, poor integration of regenerative practices, and insufficient monitoring systems. The paper proposes a multi-pronged strategy, including establishing regional Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), mainstreaming agrotourism into national frameworks, reforming Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), launching a National Regenerative Tourism Mission, co-creating thematic circuits, and developing tourism data dashboards. Findings underscore the need for a shift from volume-driven growth to a multidimensional, community-anchored, and ecologically grounded tourism model that balances economic objectives with cultural integrity and environmental resilience.