Tourism in India

Tourism in India

1-Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India.

2- India witnesses more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 562 million domestic tourism visits.

3-The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate.

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4-The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of tourism in India and maintains the "Incredible India" campaign.

5-According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism hotspot from 2009-2018, having the highest 10-year growth potential.

6-The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 ranked tourism in India 6th in terms of price competitiveness and 39th in terms of safety and security.

7-Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, such as shortage of hotel rooms, tourism revenues are expected to surge by 42% from 2007 to 2017.

8-India has a growing medical tourism sector.

9-The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are expected to significantly boost tourism in India.

10-Tourism with its wide range of constituent sub sectors is nowworld's largest industry.

11-The dramatic growth of tourism over the last twenty five years is one of the most remarkable economic and social phenomena of the period.

12-Tourism activity has long lasting socio-economic impacts on the host economy and community.

13- The employment impact of

Tourism goes beyond employment in sectors in which tourists directly spend their money, such as hotels, restaurants andairlines.

14-The establishments which receive tourists also buy goods and services from other sectors that generate employment

In those sectors through multiplier effect.

15-In India, there has been 220.1 million domestic tourist visits in the year 2000 that increased to 234.8 million in the year 2001 and 273.3 million in 2002.

16-In the year 2003, 2.75 million tourists

Visited the country.

17-Conservative estimates of tourism related employment (base year 2002) by our professionals reveal that tourism generates about 7.5 million full time job equivalents in India. It translates to about 11 million actual jobs.

18-Our professionals discussed with various stakeholders in the local tourism markets. Such discussions brought out various constraints faced by tourism industry at various tourist destinations in the country.

19-Major constraints are poor quality of

Infrastructure, malpractices by operators, manpower not being qualified resulting in poor quality of service, absence of a diversified value bundle as a product offer to the tourists, proper

Marketing and promotion, air connectivity and concerns related

With carrying capacity and environment.

20-The emerged picture of tourism potential and related employment

Coupled with the identification of gaps in planning, provision, positioning and marketing of tourism point towards the requisite interventions at macro as well as micro level.

21-Macro interventions are related with macro economic policy framework in which tourism industry operates in the country. On the other hand, micro

Interventions are related with spatial planning, efficient provision and marketing of tourist destinations.

22-Above observations coupled with timely and efficient implementation of programs and plans outlined in the tourism policies of respective States can catalyze the growth of tourism industry in the country resulting in creation of more tourism related jobs.

23-Besides above, some additional measures are required to improve the air and surface connectivity of all these destinations.

24-Further, the issues related with environment and fragility of eco- systems needs special attention.

25-Special attention is also required for increasing the employment of women in the tourism industry. Employers should set up programs and schemes encouraging women to move into non-traditional occupations, invest in women's training, appoint them in managerial positions, and re-appoint them after years of diminished involvement due to family responsibilities.

26-To sum up, Indian tourism has vast potential for generating employment and earning large sums of foreign exchange besides giving a fillip to the country's overall economic and social development. Much has been achieved by way of increasing air seat capacity, increasing trains and railway connectivity to important tourist destinations, four-laning of roads connecting important tourist centers and increasing availability of accommodation by adding heritage hotels to the hotel industry and encouraging paying guest accommodations. But much more remains to be done. Since tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a service industry, it would be necessary that all wings of the Central and State governments, private sector and voluntary organizations become active partners in the endeavor to attain sustainable growth in tourism if India is to become a world player in the tourist industry.