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Tourism Sector in India – Explained, pointwise

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1 Introduction
2 What is the current status of Tourism Sector in India?
3 What are the driving factors of Tourism Sector in India?
4 What are the challenges faced by the Tourism Sector in India?
5 What steps have been taken for the development of Tourism Sector in India?
6 What more steps can be taken going ahead?
7 Conclusion

Introduction

A three-day National Conference of Tourism Ministers of States was held for the first time in Dharmsala (Himachal Pradesh) recently. The purpose of the Conference was to discuss, debate, and deliberate on modes and mechanisms to develop tourism sector in India. The meeting came up with ‘ Dharamshala Declaration ‘. The Dharamshala Declaration aims to recognise India’s role in contributing towards global tourism as well as focus on recovery by also promoting domestic tourism, which has been overlooked for long. India is a vast country with huge geographical, climatic, landscape, wildlife, heritage and cultural diversity. As such India has huge tourism potential. Yet this potential has remained under-utilized. In this context, the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken several initiatives to boost tourism in India.

What is the current status of Tourism Sector in India?

Before the onset of the pandemic, the contribution of tourism sector to India’s GDP had reached ~US$ 250 billion in 2018. However, the contribution had fallen to US$ 122 billion in 2020 due to pandemic. The share of Tourism to GDP has hovered around ~5-6%. With post-pandemic recovery, the tourism industry is expected to reach US$ 512 billion by 2028.

Tourism Sector in India contribution UPSC

Source: IBEF

Tourism Sector is the third-largest foreign exchange earner for the country in 2019. The foreign exchange earnings between 2016 and 2019 increased at a CAGR of 7%, but dipped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2028, Indian tourism and hospitality is expected to earn US$ 50.9 billion as visitor exports compared with US$ 28.9 billion in 2018. Foreign Tourist arrivals had reached 10.9 million in 2019, before falling to 2.7 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.

India was ranked 34th in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 published by the World Economic Forum. The Economic Impact 2019 Report published by the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) has noted that between 2014-19, India witnessed the strongest growth in the number of jobs created (6.36 million), followed by China (5.47 million) and the Philippines (2.53 million).

In 2020, the Indian tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, which was 8% of the total employment in the country. By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 million jobs. Tourism sector provides diverse opportunities for jobs like in hospitality/hotels/accommodation, transportation, tour guides, travel operations etc.

Source: IBEF. Components of Tourism Sector

What are the driving factors of Tourism Sector in India?

The Tourism Sector in India is driven by various factors like diverse attractions, robust demand (like for medical tourism) and attractive opportunities.

In addition to the above, rapidly expanding India economy is providing huge opportunities for business tourism. According to the World Bank, India has overtaken Japan to become the world‟s third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). India holds a 6.4% share of global GDP on a PPP basis. Because of the economic growth, foreign players are interested to establish their operational facilities in the country. Domestic investors have also made huge investments to expand their business. Tourism industry gets benefited from the growing economic environment and investment made by both domestic and foreign investors. The country‟s growing economic environment acts as one of the major influential driver for tourism growth and development of the country.

What are the challenges faced by the Tourism Sector in India?

Awareness : Despite promotional campaigns by the Government, the awareness regarding India as a tourist destination remains low. Even among domestic tourists, the choice is limited to few popular destinations which remain overcrowded, while many other potential places receive low footfalls of tourists. The information portals and centres are poorly managed. There is lack of promotional campaigns in foreign countries. The absence of online branding campaigns fail to provide information to attract tourists.

Infrastructure and Safety : Many popular destinations lack air connectivity, especially in the hilly regions. Moreover, there is lack of proper hygienic facilities in may places. Lack of cleanliness is off-putting to many tourists. In addition there are safety concerns especially among foreign visitors because of few cases of harassment. Poor experience of some tourists leads to bad word-of-mouth information impacting perception of potential tourists.

Communication : Many tourists face communication problem while in India. This makes them dependent on tourist guides or travel operators to curate their travel in India.

Lack of Skilled Manpower : There is dearth of skilled manpower especially multi-lingual tour guides or hotel staff. The sector is dominated by small unorganized players who can’t spend on skilling their employees or sensitising them to cultural values of the foreign tourists. This impacts tourist experience.

Visa Process : The Government had started the e-visa process (online) which has led to increase in foreign tourists. However, the visa-on-arrival facility is limited to very few countries, limiting foreign tourists.

Currency Fluctuations : Another issue is the fluctuations in the currency exchange rates. The inability to know the value of a currency means that long-range tourism prices are especially hard to predict and the fallout from this monetary instability is already impacting multiple tourism support systems.

Although the coronavirus crisis has short-term destructive effects on the tourism industry, it is challenging the practices of the tourism industry and is drawing attention to a succession of issues like poor risk management in the travel industry, viral globalization, and travel of diseases with tourists to cross borders.

What steps have been taken for the development of Tourism Sector in India?

Infrastructure : The Government has been increasing investments in strengthening of the country’s road and rail networks and promoting port development is a significant driver for the growth of the Tourism sector. The Adarsh Station Scheme is helping modernize railway stations, while the Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN ( Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik ), is helping make air travel more economical and widespread to hitherto unserved routes. The Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes aim to stimulate growth in niche tourism segments such as religious, heritage, wellness, medical, adventure, MICE, wildlife etc. Under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, the Government has launched several theme based circuits like Buddhist circuit which covers destinations associated with the life of Lord Buddha.

Promotional Campaign : Promotional activities such as the Incredible India 2.0 campaign focuses on niche tourism products including yoga, wellness, luxury, cuisine wildlife among others. “ Find the Incredible You ” Campaign focuses on the promotion of niche tourism products of the Country on digital and social media.

Information Helpline : The government has introduced the concept of e-tourist and e-medical visas which has helped increase inbound tourists to the country. Additional initiatives such as Atithi Devo Bhava , a 24×7 multi-lingual Tourist Helpline, among others have helped improve the safety and security of tourists. On a pilot basis, an ‘ Incredible India Helpline ’ has been set up to guide the tourists.

Safety : The Ministry of Tourism has adopted a code of conduct for safe tourism, which contains a set of guidelines to encourage tourism activities to be undertaken with respect to basic rights like dignity, and safety of both tourists and local residents, in particular women and children.

Investment : The government allows 100% Foreign Direct Investment in the Travel and Tourism sector through the automatic route to increase investments across the sector. More recently, the GST rate cut on hotel room tariffs across the board has been a positive move for the industry and is expected to boost the sector’s competitiveness globally.

Cleanliness and Hygiene : Major cleanliness campaign has been launched under the Swachh Bharat movement for protecting and preserving the sanctity of monuments of national heritage . The Ministry of Tourism has also launched awareness campaign to ensure cleanliness of surroundings and help create a Swachh Bharat, Swachh Smarak .

Assistance to States : Financial assistance to states, including places of religious importance, for various tourism projects in consultation with them subject to availability of funds, inter-se priority, liquidation of pending utilisation certificates and adherence to the scheme guidelines.

Digital Database : In September 2021, the Government launched NIDHI 2.0 (National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry), a scheme which will maintain a hospitality database comprising accommodation units, travel agents, tour operators and others. NIDHI 2.0 will facilitate digitalisation of the tourism sector by encouraging hotels to register themselves on the platform.

Skilling : The Ministry of Tourism has introduced the Incredible India Tourist Facilitator (IITF) and Incredible India Tourist Guide (IITG) Certification Programme to create an online learning platform of well-trained tourist facilitators and guides across the country.

The Ministry of Tourism had launched an initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) by partnering with the Quality Council of India (QCI) in October 2020. The initiative was focused on effective implementation of guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID-19 for safe operations of hotels, restaurants, and other units.

What more steps can be taken going ahead?

First , The government should continue to promote India’s diversity and rich heritage to re-establish its position as a tourist paradise. The promotional campaigns should target both domestic and foreign tourists. Similarly, the extent of theme-based tourist circuits can be expanded.

Second , the skilling initiatives should be scaled-up . Tourism sector has a potential to provide lot of livelihood opportunities in smaller cities/towns (below tier-2 level). It can help address the issue of jobless growth.

Third , there is need to balance the promotion of tourism with safeguarding the physical, social, and cultural environment in the destination areas. The government should also promote green and sustainable tourism to tackle issues relating to water crisis, pollution, waste management, etc.

Fourth , the Government should further reform the tourist visa norms and processes to facilitate tourism. The Government should also explore the possibility of expanding the visa-on-arrival facility.

Fifth , the focus should also be on supporting and promoting the emerging segments of tourism.

Source: IBEF. Emerging Segments of Tourism.

The tourism sector in India is gradually recovering from the impact of the pandemic. Even during the pandemic, the sector had shown resilience by adapting its operations to ensure safe practices and social distancing. The sector has huge untapped potential in India. The multiplier effect associated with the tourism sector can help raise the income levels and ensure inclusive growth. A burgeoning tourism industry can prove to be vital in ensuring India’s transition to a high income economy.

Syllabus : GS III, Indian Economy and issues related to growth.

Source : The Hindu , Hindustan Times , IBEF

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Recently ,The National Conference of State Tourism Ministers ended with the adoption of the “Dharamshala Declaration” which affirms commitment toward developing “sustainable and responsible tourism” and positions India as a “global leader in the tourism sector by 2047”.

Potential of Tourism Sector In India

Tourism and Hospitality sector is one of the largest employment g enerating sectors in India and has been contributing towards generating a major chunk of Foreign Exchange Earning (FEE).
India is an experiential destination with its kaleidoscope of ancient culture and heritage, ancient systems of healing like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Naturopathy , natural beauty including 70% of the Himalayas and over 7500 km long coastline, rich flora and fauna, world class medical facilities a nd many other aspects make India the favoured destination for the discerning traveller.
The percentage of Foreign Tourist Arrivals visiting India for Medical Treatment has been increasing over the years and growing rapidly.
Over the past few months, all the major tourism indices such as domestic air passenger traffic, hotel occupancy and tourist footfalls have shown signs of recovery and are going back to pre-pandemic levels.
By 2030, India is estimated to grow at 7%-9% compounded annual growth rate and we expect the enabling policy framework to bring in $250 billion in GDP contribution from tourism, 140 million jobs in the tourism sector and $56 billion in foreign exchange earnings with more than 25 million foreign arrivals.

Challenges

Lack of Infrastructure – It is a major challenge for the Indian tourism sector. This includes hotels, connectivity with other cities, health facilities, and transportation etc.
Attacks on foreign tourists, especially on women tourists have raised this question.
COVID-19 pandemic: The Indian tourism and hospitality sector were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and saw substantial job loss.
Business Hurdles, Lack of Hygiene and Comfortable accommodation
Lack of integrated tourism promotion

Governments Initiatives

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme: The Government of India’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme was recently enhanced by ?50,000 crore, from ?4.5 lakh crore to ?5 lakh crore to benefit enterprises in hospitality and related sectors such as hotels and restaurants, marriage halls, travel agents, tour operators, adventure and heritage facilities.
The guiding principles include promoting sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism in line with our civilisational ethos.
The policy also aims to give impetus to digitalisation, innovation and technology through the National Digital Tourism Mission and skilling through the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Mission
Theme based schemes for the integrated development of circuits for improvement of infrastructure in the country have been launched by the Ministry of Tourism to enable tourists to experience the destination fully.
The Ministry has also been working with the Ministry of External Affairs to identify 20 Indian missions abroad with the highest tourist footfalls to India and build country-specific strategies to attract foreign tourists.
Central Sector Scheme
Aim: Integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
Focus on identifying and developing pilgrim sites across the country to promote religious tourism.
Organises webinars, quiz, pledge, discussions to keep people connected with the stakeholders and to encourage citizens to travel within the country.
It envisages the development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites and making them tourist-friendly.
The event highlights various potentials like eco-tourism, culture, heritage and business of the North East Region.
Gati Shakti Master Plan: It is a project for developing ‘holistic infrastructure’.
It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc.

What Lies Ahead ?

Tourism creates jobs and provides jobs in the tertiary sector. It is now high time for us to work for the betterment of this sector so that from the upcoming years the number of foreign tourists may increase, and more people will be able to know about our culture.
The Startup India initiative has boosted entrepreneurship. However, the travel and tourism startups need a bigger push. Innovative startups should be encouraged. Support from the government for ideation and access to finance are required.
The growth in this sector has multiplier effects on income generation as it is employment-intensive with less capital investment
There is a need to highlight the significance of public-private partnership to improve infrastructure and tackle the problem of end connectivity, which negatively affects the experiences of international travellers.
India’s age-old dictum of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ will come to the fore as it welcomes delegates from the 20 countries/European Union.

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Cultural Tourism in India

Last updated on October 3, 2023 by ClearIAS Team

What is Cultural tourism? Why Cultural tourism is significant in India? What is being done to promote cultural tourism in India? Read further to know more

India has a wide variety of attractions that showcase its extensive cultural heritage. India attracts tourists from all over the world because of its abundance of spectacular heritage monuments.

As a result of cultural tourism in India, people have visited historic temples, regal palaces, scenic beaches, and attractive hills.

Table of Contents

Present scenario of the tourism sector in India

With 1.52 million foreign visitors anticipated in 2021, India is one of the top tourism destinations in the globe. India’s foreign exchange revenues increased by roughly $8.8 billion as a result of this. There were also about 680 million domestic travellers.

India is a much-liked tourist destination thanks in large part to its distinct culture, history, and position as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, as well as its plethora of breathtaking natural attractions. As a result, there are 40 UNESCO world heritage sites (32 cultural, 7 natural & 1 mixed). With towns, forts, tombs, tunnels, rock shelters, and churches, India has a lot to offer tourists.

What is Cultural tourism?

Cultural tourism is a kind of tourism that enables visitors to take part in local cultural celebrations like festivals and traditions. The traveller can thus have genuine cultural contact with the people.

Furthermore, because cultural tourism is a significant development engine, it enables local societies to embrace their culture. Communities, therefore, make a point of praising and supporting their culture since it sets them apart from other communities.

As nations recognise the value of cultural tourism and how it can boost local economies, they are focusing on developing cities and villages that will captivate tourists from across the world to experience and observe the culture in a way that has never been possible before.

Why Cultural tourism is significant in India?

Tourists travel to India to experience it for themselves because of the country’s well-known rich cultural legacy and mysticism.
Some of the most important civilizations and faiths in the world have their roots in India and were nurtured there. India is a popular travel destination because of its numerous World Heritage Sites and unparalleled cultural vibrancy.
Since time immemorial, India has been regarded as the land of ancient history, legacy, and culture, which is the main reason for its current stratospheric ascent in the tourism sector.
Over the years, India has had numerous kings, and each of them had an impact on Indian culture. Different cultures have left their mark on dance, music, celebrations, architecture, traditional customs, food, and languages.
The richness and diversity of India’s heritage and culture can be attributed to the influence of all these different cultures. This cultural wealth helps to project India as the top destination for cultural tourism, boosting that industry in India.
To promote cultural tourism in India, the Indian government established the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The ministry recently launched the “Incredible India!” campaign, which has contributed to the expansion of India’s cultural tourism industry.

Various sites of cultural tourism centres in India

India’s diversity is a result of the country’s mixture of religious and cultural traditions. The nation is home to a large number of world historic monuments that have an enticing influence and have long drawn visitors from around the world. We would be delighted to familiarise ourselves with the many customs and civilizations that make up India’s cultural heritage.

The Pushkar fair (Rajasthan), Taj Mahotsav (Uttar Pradesh), and Suraj Kund mela are just a few of the fairs and festivals that travellers can attend in India (Haryana). sites include the Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), the Hawa Mahal (Uttar Pradesh), Hampi (Karnataka), the Ajanta & Ellora caves (Maharashtra), and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu) (Rajasthan).

Rajasthan is the most popular state in India for cultural tourism among the several states. Rajasthan is known for having a rich cultural legacy, which is the reason behind this. The state is well known for its numerous exquisite palaces and forts that highlight Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage. Rajasthan’s rich cultural legacy is also reflected in the numerous folk songs and music. Rajasthan has many festivals and fairs, including the camel festival, the Marwar festival, and the Pushkar festival. All of these draw a lot of people to Rajasthan since they allow them to experience the state’s vibrant culture.

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Tamil Nadu is renowned for cultural tourism in India as well because it exhibits Dravidian customs and culture. Its numerous temples reflect India’s rich cultural heritage. Numerous tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh attest to the nation’s rich cultural heritage. The Taj Mahal in Agra is the most well-known structure. Many tourists also go to Uttar Pradesh cities like Varanasi, Allahabad, Vrindavan, and Ayodhya because they capture exquisite scenes from India.

In India, Uttaranchal is renowned for its cultural tourism industry. The Himalayas, known as the “abode of the Gods,” are located in this state. The Kumaon and Garhwal regions of the state are home to numerous historic temples.

Government initiatives to boost India’s cultural tourism

Some of the government initiatives to boost cultural tourism in India are:

PRASHAD Scheme

The Ministry of Tourism introduced the “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)” in 2014–15 with the goal of holistically developing recognised pilgrimage places.
In October 2017, the program’s name, which had previously been PRASAD, was changed to “National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)”.
The respective State/Union Territory Government shall implement the initiatives listed under this scheme through the designated agencies.
Under its provisions, the Ministry of Tourism offers State Governments Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for boosting tourism at predetermined locations.
The Central Government will contribute 100% of the funds needed for components covered by public funding under this programme.
It also tries to incorporate corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public-private partnerships (PPP) for the project’s increased sustainability.

HRIDAY scheme

The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana, an HRIDAY programme, was introduced on January 21, 2015, by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The goal of this programme is to protect and promote the nation’s rich cultural heritage. The HRIDAY programme seeks to preserve cultural assets while also promoting urban planning and historic cities’ economic development.
The National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana places a strong emphasis on the heritage cities’ accessibility, security, safety, way of life, cleanliness, and quick service delivery.
Buddhist Tourism Circuit
The Buddhist circuit is a route that follows in the footsteps of the Buddha from Lumbini in Nepal where he was born, through Bihar in India where he attained enlightenment, to Sarnath and Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh in India, where he gave his first teachings and his final resting place.
Kushinagar is the centre of the Buddhist circuit, which consists of pilgrimage sites at Lumbini, Sarnath, and Gaya.

Palace on Wheels

A luxurious tourist train is called The Palace on Wheels. To promote tourism in Rajasthan, it was started by the Indian Railways in collaboration with the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. The name has since changed to Heritage Palace on Wheels.
In August 2009, the train service underwent renovations and was reopened with new furnishings, itineraries, and menus.
The idea for the Palace on Wheels came from the historical royal significance of the coaches, which were designed to serve as the private trains for the former kings of Rajputana, Baroda, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and primarily the Viceroy of British India.
Each saloon showcases the state’s cultural character through the use of furnishings, handicrafts, paintings, and other decorations. The interior of the train was designed by Rashmi Gupta, an architect from Jaipur.

What is being done to promote cultural tourism in India?

The tourist industry has been growing as a result of numerous causes. Let’s look at them now:

Hospitality and food

The Indian hospitality industry is a major contributor to this expansion. The public and commercial hospitality sectors have developed adequate resorts and hotels that offer excellent conventional and delectable options to tourists to accommodate and feed them.
Additionally, eating has given visitors to India another reason to go. This nation provides a wide variety of culinary delicacies that are practically unmatched.

Activities and events

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and MCT (Ministry of Culture & Tourism) have worked together to promote Indian culture throughout the world. To accomplish this, several Indian Cultural Centers on both the national and international levels organise a variety of programmes and events, including yoga coaching, music, dance, and language classes in Hindi and Sanskrit.
To promote the culture and variety of the nation, there are various activities like festival celebrations and art exhibitions. Through a Global Engagement Scheme, the Ministry of Culture also promotes Indian culture abroad. In this programme, Indian festivals are promoted and various cultural organisations abroad receive financial and infrastructural assistance.

Creation of world-class tourism infrastructure

The Swadesh Darshan programme , which was introduced by the Indian Tourism Ministry, has been another step done by the Indian government. It aided in the creation of theme-based circuits that cater to both mainstream tourist and specialist markets.
Under this programme, world-class infrastructure has been built to promote Indian culture and history. 27 projects totalling 2261.50 crores have been approved for 21 states and Union Territories since 2015.

Generation of tourism markets abroad

Through a marketing strategy and integrated campaigns using international media, the Indian Tourism Ministry has been pushing India as a top travel destination.
Since October 2021, the top 20 source markets abroad have seen all of these promotional activities carried out by the synergized combination of all the tourism offices abroad.
For instance, proposals for organising events with themes like Spirit of Gujarat in nations with a Gujarati Diaspora have been sent to the Indian government. Gujarat’s culture and heritage will be the main focus of this event.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is another festival with a distinct subject that would be promoted on Independence Day and Republic Day of India. It would foster a sense of pride in one’s country and emphasise how the people contributed significantly to India’s independence.
Another instance of this project is the International Buddhist Conclave, which takes place every two years. This gathering celebrates Buddhist heritage .

Additional initiatives are taken by the Government of India

Issuing the Tourist e-Visa to a chosen few nations is another effective government measure that would help India’s tourism grow. Teams have been chosen by the Indian government to take part in significant travel shows and international tourism expos. Several roadshows have also been held to advertise India as a tourist destination.
In addition to all these activities, the government is also setting up training courses and workshops to attract qualified people to this profession. Here, providing a better experience is the goal.

Easy setup of tourism businesses

The Indian Ministry of Tourism has made conducting business easier and assisted in establishing Web-based Delivery Systems for the general population. To make the process of submitting business applications for government approval transparent, it recognises the Trade and Travel Service Providers and aids hotels and resorts in classifying under a single directory. With effect from January 2016, this was done online along with the integration of payment gateways.

Development of a mobile app

The Indian Tourism Ministry introduced the Swachh Paryatan mobile application in February 2016. This enables citizens to report any problems with sanitation and hygienic conditions at different national tourist attractions.

Scaling greater heights

The government’s measures will be essential moving ahead to build a sustainable system that will attract new participants to the cultural tourism sector while bolstering the performance of the current ones.
However, there is still much to learn about the enormous potential of India’s cultural tourism sector. If properly developed, this industry can increase its GDP contribution to India and increase employment possibilities there. To do this, it is necessary to stimulate related industries including transportation, infrastructure, lodging, and hospitality.

The government is paying attention to India’s expanding cultural tourism industry and taking the necessary steps to support it in maintaining this development. The industry, however, still has a lot of unrealized potentials. If appropriately utilised, this can increase the industry’s contribution to India’s GDP and provide job possibilities there.

By bringing revenue to historic sites, ruins and mausoleums, tourism has the potential to enhance and safeguard heritage and culture.

Riverine-Based Religious Tourism Circuit
Tourism Sector

Article written by Aseem Muhammed

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National Tourism Policy [UPSC Notes]

A complete national tourism policy would be unveiled in India within the next two months, according to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy. Information indicates that the government has discussed this with all key stakeholders, including the state governments, financial institutions, and travel agencies.

Based on various developments that had occurred since the last policy was created in 2002, the Ministry of Tourism prepared a draft of the National Tourism Policy, taking into account important recommendations from NITI Aayog , the Sectoral Group of Secretaries, international best practices from organizations like the UNWTO, and policies and strategies developed by other nations. So the debate surrounding this policy is important from the UPSC exam perspective.

Draft National Tourism Policy

The National Tourism Policy 2022 is part of the vision of New India on a high trajectory of growth and prosperity. The new Policy is a holistic framework for sustainable and responsible growth of the tourism sector in the country.

The policy’s objectives include increasing the framework conditions for the country’s tourist industry’s growth, assisting the travel and tourism sector, and promoting related businesses.

National Tourism Policy Objectives

The Policy’s primary strategic goals are:

To make India a year-round travel destination and to increase visitors, spending, and time spent there in order to boost the contribution of tourism to the Indian economy.
To create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism sector and ensure the supply of a skilled labour pool.
To make the tourist industry more competitive and draw in private sector investment.
To preserve and enhance the nation’s natural and cultural resources.
To ensure the nation’s tourist industry develops in a sustainable, ethical, and inclusive manner.

National Tourism Policy Guiding Principles

In this section, we talk about the guiding principles behind the draft policy for tourism.

The policy aims to promote sustainable tourism by minimizing the negative impact of tourism on social, environmental and economic aspects and maximizing the positive impact.
The policy further advocates responsible tourism to bring all stakeholders together to take responsibility for achieving sustainable tourism, and to create better places for people to live in and for people to visit.
In order to ensure inclusive growth, creating opportunities for marginalized sections of society including people living in remote areas will be a priority.
Green tourism catalyzes action for the promotion of sustainable tourism, which takes full account of current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
The Policy aims to use technology for several initiatives under the policy and aims to help the tourism industry make the most of the opportunities presented by the digital economy.
The Policy follows a ‘whole of government’ approach to address the major and multifaceted challenges faced by the tourism industry and to develop the tourism sector in the country.
The Policy is guided by the principle that growth in the tourism sector has to be led by the Private Sector and the public sector has to play an enabling and facilitating role.
It aims to grant ‘Infrastructure Status’ to Tourism and Hospitality projects.
It also aims at supporting tourism-related MSMEs in digitisation, formalisation of MSMEs, adopting sustainable practices, etc.
Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat will be a central idea under the Policy to enhance interaction and promote mutual understanding between people of different States/UTs to promote a sustained and structured cultural connection in tourism and related areas of culture, traditions & music, cuisine, sports and sharing of best practices, etc.
Know more about Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat in the linked article.
The Policy aims at enhancing the tourist experience throughout his/her journey from arrival to return and it will be a key element of planning for tourism development under the Policy.

Significance of Tourism:

Tourism has emerged as a key driver of economic growth across the world.
It is one of the economic sectors with the strongest growth, it has a big influence on commerce, employment, investment, building infrastructure, and social inclusion.
Tourism is a labour-intensive sector and has a significant multiplier effect on employment in related sectors.
Tourism is important in social inclusion since it employs more women and youth than most the other sectors.
Tourism can generate resources for the conservation of cultural and natural heritage and has huge potential to make a positive contribution to sustainable development goals .

Conclusion:

National Tourism Policy [UPSC Notes]:- Download PDF Here

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[Burning Issue] Tourism Sector of India

The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Minister was held at Dharamshala last year, a first-of-its-kind meeting aimed to discuss, debate and deliberate on modes and mechanisms to develop tourism in India.
The three-day National Conference concluded with the adoption of the “Dharamshala Declaration” which affirms commitment toward developing “sustainable and responsible tourism” and positions India as a “global leader in the tourism sector by 2047”.
In this context, this edition of Burning issue will elaborate on the tourism sector of India.

What is tourism?

Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.

Types of tourism

Domestic tourism : Refers to activities of a visitor within their country of residence and outside of their home (e.g. Indian visiting other parts of India)
Inbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a visitor from outside of the country of residence (e.g. a Spaniard visiting Britain).
Outbound tourism : Refers to the activities of a resident visitor outside of their country of residence (e.g. an Indian visiting an overseas country).

What is the importance of tourism?

Boosts economies : Tourism boosts the revenue of the economy, creates thousands of jobs, develops the infrastructures of a country, and plants a sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens.
Satisfy human exploration urge : Tourism is a compulsion driven by the urge to discover new places. Because we have this compulsion to venture into the unknown, we need each other. When humans travel, meet and exchange ideas, civilization flourishes.
A major economic sector : the business volume of tourism equals or even surpasses that of oil exports, ‎food products or automobiles. Tourism has become one of the major players in ‎international commerce and represents at the same time one of the main income ‎sources for many developing countries.

Global tourism industry

The Travel and Tourism (T&T) industry directly contributes about 3.6% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and, indirectly contributes about 10.3% to it.
As one of the biggest contributors to the global GDP, this industry directly employs nearly 77 million people worldwide, which comprises about 3% of the world’s total employment.
The industry also represents about 12% of the total world exports .
Continuing world prosperity, growing recognition of tourism’s contribution to employment and economic growth, availability of better infrastructure, focused marketing and promotion efforts, liberalization of air transport, growing intraregional cooperation, and a growing number of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) are seen as the key drivers for tourism in the next decade.

Indian tourism industry

The travel and tourism industry contributed a total of $124.8 billion to the GDP in India in 2015 — this accounted for approximately 10% of India’s total GDP in 2020.
A 2014 study found that India was one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations worldwide. Placed eleventh on the list, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in India was expected to grow an average of 6.4% annually between 2014 and 2024.
The sector is expected to grow at an annual average growth rate of 7.9% till 2023, making India the third fastest-growing tourism destination over the next decade.
Tourism in India provides 40 million jobs . The industry provided more than 23.5 million jobs in 2015. Over 7.7% of Indian employees work in the tourism industry.
The largest source market for visitors to India was the US, followed by Bangladesh and the UK. Outbound travel from India is also forecasted to reach 1.41 million in 2020.
According to an official release of PIB, Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in March 2022 were 3,42,308 with a positive growth rate of 117.9% as compared to 1,23,179 in march 2021, indicating the post-pandemic revival of the tourism sector.
The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021, ranks India 54th out of 117 countries overall.

Prospects of Indian Tourism

High diversity: India has a gift with the most prominent diversity in culture . In Addition, geography and art pull in a colossal measure of voyagers to the nation. Different new forms of tourism are offering in recent years are also helping to build up the country’s tourism industry.
Multiple tourism types available: Medical tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and cruise tourism have gained tremendous popularity and attention among foreigners . Now and have the potential for high growth shortly. The Himalayas are the greatest assets of India in adventure tourism.
Huge domestic tourist market : Many people from all over the country are attracted to India because of its scenic beauty which spreads from Kashmir in the North to Kanyakumari in the South and Arunachal Pradesh in the East to Gujrat in the West, and multiculturalism.
New tourism sectors opening : In India, the tourism industry is diversifying away from traditional sightseeing tours oriented (primarily places of cultural tourism interest) to a more rapidly expanding market based on the country’s atmosphere and environment, emphasizing the aesthetic, environmental, and socio-cultural implications of projects.

What is the Importance of Tourism in India?

Economic progress: The tourism industry aids and supports foreign exchange reserves. It helps our country in generating foreign exchange. Every year a large number of tourists visit India and other places. Places they go to; Stay and shop in our country. All this contributes to a significant amount of foreign exchange. Despite the global recession, Indian tourism grew by 9% in 2015 to $42 billion.
Source of Income: Tourism is a continuous source of income for public and private income. It led to employment, especially in the hotel industry, hospitality industry, service sector, entertainment, and transportation industry. Even a seller of local commodities like artefacts, handicraft items etc. earns due to tourism.
Development of Infrastructure: Have you ever noticed how the look and feel of a place change when it is declared a tourist destination? Indeed, tourism aids and encourages infrastructure development by making way for dams, roads, connectivity, airport improvements, and any other activity that helps a tourist visit a place in a better way. The best example can be the development of Kevadia town in Gujarat due to the statue of unity.
Social Progress: Tourism is an excellent way for cultural exchange. It also encourages social progress as tourists learn to show respect, tolerance, and love for each other when visiting new places.
Cultural Heritage: Tourism helps to articulate the beauty, art, history, and culture of our country. Different people who come to any country take beautiful cultural concepts with them and spread those concepts to other people by going to other places.
Puts India on the map globally: In terms of variety, India has a lot to offer global travelers. With the country’s landscape spreading across six major climatic subtypes, tourists can take their pick from among the snow-clad mountains in the north, the vast expanses of coastlines in the south, the arid deserts in the western regions, and the rich ecosystems in the east. Developing this sector of the economy can thus put India on the map globally since the country has a lot to offer.

Challenges of the Indian tourism sector

Lack of Proper infrastructure: An established framework of the foundation includes lots of elements. Proper transportation facilities, health facilities, and stability. Also, uninterrupted connectivity and other human resources are mandatory for enduring tourism.
Inaccessibility : There are many tourist destinations in the country, which are not accessible to the poor, women and elderly because of the high cost of transportation, poor connectivity with cities, and tourist-friendly infrastructure. Around 2% of the tourist cannot access many of the tourist spots in the country.
Human Resources & Planning: Highly skilful and potential men or women hold an inevitable part of the tourism sector. So currently, there is a lack of workforce in both the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Insufficient Digital Promotion and Marketing: Grand promotion and suitable digital marketing push are excessively indispensable for a nation’s travel industry improvement. The Digital marketing of the Indian Tourism industry is not to the point yet.
Taxation issues with Indian Tourism: there are high taxes on the entire production for the airline facilities, hotels, and tour operators. Those are highly expensive. That is the most significant reason for losses to other less expensive countries when it comes to tourism.
Security issues: Security is one of the Major Challenges of Indian Tourism. There is an increasing rate of Sexual Abuse of women, Theft, and Credit Card Fraud with foreign tourists. Also, Public Violence is affecting Indian Tourism to a high intent.

What needs to be done? Way forward

National Tourism Authority : A separate National Tourism Authority (NTA) should be established for executing and operationalizing various tourism-related initiatives. Simple, flexible and elegant processes will be laid down to allow for nimbleness.
National Tourism Advisory Board : A National Tourism Advisory Board (NTAB) should be set up to provide overall vision, guidance and direction to the Development of the Tourism Sector in the country.
Creating Synergy in Tourism Eco System : In order to ensure synergy at various levels of Government and with the Private Sector, it is important to have a well-defined framework in place.
Quality Tourism Framework : A robust framework for quality certification of products and services across all segments like accommodation providers, tour operators, adventure tour operators, and service providers like spa and wellness, guides, restaurants etc. should be laid down.
Enhancing the existing luxury tourism products: The existing tourism products such as Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Palace on Wheels etc. should be enhanced and their numbers will also be increased. Haulage charges will be rationalized to make luxury trains viable.
Railways can be a game changer: For tourism, Railways have a presence in most parts of the country. Most of the tourist destinations in the country are connected by rail. Indian Railways is working towards promoting tourism in the country by operating more trains connecting tourists’ destinations and also by providing an array of products starting from luxury tourist trains to budget catering tourist trains
Prioritize the most popular tourist destinations : Instead of spreading limited resources over a significant number of circuits or centres, develop selected tourist circuits and centres that are popular among tourists.

Steps taken by Government in this regard

Swadesh Darshan Scheme The Swadesh Darshan scheme, a flagship programme, was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014–15. The scheme aims to encourage theme-based tourism to promote, develop, and capitalise on India’s tourist potential. The ministry developed tourism-related infrastructure at more than 500 tourist destinations. In April 2022, the ministry sanctioned 10 new projects under the heritage circuit theme.
National Integrated Database of Hospitality Industry (NIDHI) : NIDHI is an initiative towards Aatma nirbhar Bharat to use technology to empower businesses. This programme aims to understand the hospitality sector’s geographical spread, size, structure and capacity. As of 27 August 2022, a total of 45,152 accommodations were registered under this portal.
E-tourist Visa : The Indian Government launched this initiative in October 2014. This programme aims to simplify the process of obtaining a tourist visa for foreign nationals. This initiative has helped promote tourism in the country. In 2019, the government granted 2.36 million e-tourist visas.
Advertising Campaigns : The Indian Government has promoted tourism and showcased the country’s rich cultural heritage to the world through its ‘Incredible India’ campaign . The campaign aims to promote tourism in India on an international scale. In recent months, the government has taken various initiatives to promote tourism. For instance, it launched the Italy edition of Incredible India Reconnect 2022, a virtual roadshow, to encourage international tourists to visit India.
Organising International Buddhist Conclave : once in 2 years to showcase the Buddhist Heritage and International Tourism Mart for showcasing the tourism potential of North East held every year.
The National Mission for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme , was also launched by the Ministry for the development and beautification of pilgrimage sites to tap the growth of domestic tourists driven by spiritual/religious sentiments. The scheme seeks to augment tourism infrastructure at places of pilgrimage to provide better facilities to pilgrims/tourists and enhance their experience.
Multilingual Tourist Helpline: The Ministry of Tourism launched the 24×7 Toll-Free Multi-Lingual Tourist Helpline in 12 languages on February 8, 2016.
Adarsh Smarak: ASI has identified 100 monuments to be developed as Model Monuments. These monuments would be provided with necessary tourist facilities including Wi-Fi, security, signage, encroachment-free area, and interpretation centres showing short films about the importance of monuments and signboards of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The Dharamshala Declaration : aims to recognise India’s potential in supporting global tourism and also promote domestic tourism
Tourist police scheme : The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has brought out a booklet on the tourist police scheme detailing the mode of setting up of tourist police stations and control rooms, outposts, uniforms, recruitment, qualifications, training and logistics requirements for tourist police stations.

MICE tourism model of Gujarat

The acronym “MICE” stands for “Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions”, and is essentially a version of business tourism that draws domestic and international tourists to a destination.
The policy aims to make Gujarat one of the top five MICE tourism destinations in the country.
If the goal of the positioning India as one of the world’s best tourism destinations by 2047, there is a need to integrate various schemes of different ministries. Need to involve various stakeholders, and local communities; necessary interventions at an urban and rural level should be a priority.

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Tourism (UPSC Notes)

Last Updated: May 2023 (Tourism (UPSC Notes))

Table of Contents

This article deals with ‘ Tourism (UPSC Notes). ’ This is part of our series on ‘Economics’ which is an important pillar of the GS-3 syllabus. For more articles, you can click here .

Introduction

India is ranked 10th in terms of t tourism’s total contribution to GDP, contributing 4.7% to total GDP.
It is a labor-intensive sector, accounting for 39 million jobs (2020) and significantly impacts trade, investment, social inclusion, etc.
But India has not been able to exploit the potential of tourism to full capacity (corroborated by India vs. USA)

Hence, India has vast untapped potential in the tourism sector

Potential of Tourism in India

Large Diversity in Landscape: India’s landscape can cater to almost every type of traveller, whether they are seeking adventure, wellness, culture and heritage or cuisines.
Ancient Civilisation: India is an ancient civilization, and a number of historical places and buildings have tremendous potential to draw tourists. E.g., Hampi, Khajuraho, Agra, Delhi, Madurai etc.
Religious Tourism: India is home to a large number of religions. Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism took birth here.
Huge Labour Available: The availability of a huge labour force, both skilled and unskilled, can act as a catalyst.
Medical Tourism: India can provide specialized treatments at the cost of 1/4th that of developed countries. Target countries include Central Asia, Neighbours like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc.
MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conferences & Exhibitions): It is a specialized niche of business tourism. Indian MICE Tourism potential is pegged at 25,000 crore due to Places like Pragati Maidan Delhi (for exhibition) and institutes like IITs, AIIMS, IIMs etc., for International Conferences.

Reasons for untapped Tourism Potential

The tourism industry is closely integrated with several other industries like the hotel industry, accommodation, aviation, railway, roadways, healthcare, entertainment etc. The combined weaknesses of all the sectors make Indian Tourism more vulnerable.
Negative perceptions, such as India being unsafe for female foreign tourists and lack of hygiene, negatively impact Indian tourism.
Government is unable to make schemes to attract tourists like Buddhist Tourists who have cultural ties with India.
No advertisement campaigns like Malaysian and Singapore Tourism are run in foreign countries.
Lack of automated immigration procedures like Visa on Arrival.
Limited professionalism in people involved in the tourism sector, like tourist guides
Insurgency in potential Tourist Spots : Tourist places like Kashmir and North East are hit by insurgency, impacting tourism potential.

Schemes to Promote Tourism in India

In the last two years, the Ministry of Tourism has taken many steps to make India an attractive destination.

PRASAD Scheme : To develop tourism infrastructure in and around famous religious and pilgrimage cities. (12 cities Ajmer , Amritsar , Amravati, Dwarka, Gaya, Kamakhaya, Kancheepuram, Kedarnath, Mathura, Patna, Puri, Varanasi and Velankanni)
HRIDAY : For holistic development of Heritage cities (12 identified Cities, namely, Ajmer , Amaravati, Amritsar , Badami, Dwarka, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi, Velankanni and Warangal.)
Swadesh Darshan Scheme : It aims to develop a theme-based tourist circuit . These circuits include North-East India Circuit, Buddhist Circuit , Himalayan Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Krishna Circuit , Desert Circuit , Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit and Heritage Circuit.
Adopt a Heritage : Corporate Houses will adopt a Heritage and develop their infrastructure . E.g., Dalmia Group adopted Red Fort for ₹ 25 Crore, and they will provide basic amenities and develop infrastructure.
E-visa process simplified: Nationals of 161 countries have been allowed visits for business and medical treatment. Additionally, a special visa category called ‘ Medical Visa’ & ‘Medical Attendant Visa ‘ has been created to ease the entry of medical tourists into India
The government is building a large number of museums to showcase Indian heritage and promote tourism.
Incredible India Tourist Helpline : Multilingual helpline has been launched to provide assistance and information to tourists in 12 languages of the world, including Hindi & English
100 % FDI allowed in hotels, resorts & recreational activities
Revamped schemes like Hunar se Ruzgar to give training to travel guides and Institutes of Hotel Management have been opened.
Rajasthan has passed a bill under which misbehaviour with tourists has been made a cognizable offence. It is to prevent the touts from forcing tourists to buy things at exorbitant prices or fraudulating the tourists, as it impacts tourism negatively.

TOURISM SECTOR OF INDIA

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

The Ministry of Tourism, under its “Incredible India” brand line is participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022.
The aim is to showcase India’s rich & diversified tourism potential and providing a platform to the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products including Niche products.
Also, it is aims to promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.

India’s Tourism Sector

The Indian tourism and hospitality industry have emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India.

In 2020, the Indian tourism sector accounted for 39 million jobs, which was 8% of the total employment in the country.

Achievements of Tourism Industry in India

India was globally the third largest in terms of investment in travel and tourism in 2018, accounting for 5.9% of the total investment in the country.
According to The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism generated 6.8% of India’s GDP in 2019 and supported 39.80 million jobs which is 8 % of its total employment.
In 2014, Tourism & Hospitality sustained a total of 36.7 million direct, indirect, and induced jobs in India, which is more than the jobs created in banking, automotive manufacturing, chemicals manufacturing, education, financial services, and mining sectors.

Number of employees in the travel and tourism sector across India from financial year 2014 to 2019(in millions)

Medical tourism

The total number of inward medical tourists doubled in last three years in India.

Global Rankings

India’s rank in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), 2017 has also shown a 25 places jump from 2013.
Rank of India in TTCI Report of 2017 was 40th as compared to 52nd in 2015 and 65th in 2013.

Challenges plaguing the Tourism Industry

Lack of proper infrastructure

An entrenched framework of infrastructure which includes proper transportation facilities, health facilities, stable, and uninterrupted connectivity and other human resources are mandatory for stable tourism.
India positioned 112nd in the ICT readiness component and 104th rank in the health and hygiene components of the WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, 2017.
This basically mirrors the poor quality infrastructure our nation has.

Human resources

To maintain the growth of our Indian travel and tourism industry a large amount of skilled man force is required at different levels.
In the past years, there was an exploding increase in manpower for other sectors like banking, engineering, and medicine. This gradually prompted abatement in the human resources available for the tourism sector.

Insufficient promotion and marketing

Great promotion and enough marketing push are excessively indispensable for a nation’s travel industry improvement.
In India, the financial backing allotted to help and advance the travel industry is less contrasted with other tourist destinations.
High taxes on the entire industry including the airline facilities, hotels, and tour operators are highly expensive.
This is the one main reason why India loses to other less expensive countries when it comes to tourism.

Security issues

The increasing rate of sexual abuse of women, theft, credit card fraud, identity theft, food poisoning, terrorism, and public violence is affecting Indian tourism to a high extent.

B2B Pricing Wars

The B2B travel industry in India is a highly cluttered market offering homogenous range of choices and highly customized services.
Due to which most destination management companies in India are proposing and selling trips by pricing out competition.
This has led to the advent of extremely low margins and a growing dependence on what is known as the “shopping culture.”

Technology and Funding

Well-funded big companies are thriving through the deployment of state-of-the-art technology and innovation.
Lack of proper infrastructure, funding, and research data acts as a major disadvantage and tends to leave the smaller companies at the mercy of big-companies.
At present, in India, well-funded companies such as MakeMyTrip and ClearTrip have done really well in cementing their positions in the travel industry.
However, the inbound travel industry in India, is still not very large and is dominated by a few large B2B companies.
Smaller travel companies led by innovation have not received the recognition that they deserve.

Perception of India

Lack of cohesiveness across various state-led tourism campaigns has limited India as clichéd, and stereotypical spiritual destination. We can refer to this tourist section as the Eat-Pray-Love crowd.
This is despite of the fact that as a travel destination, we have lots to offer such as ancient culture, historical heritage, spiritual experiences, beautiful landscape, natural diversity, adventure, wildlife and so on.

Eg- The mighty Himalayas are our asset.

Socio Political Agitations

For example the temporary closure of Jammu and Kashmir to tourists and socio-political and religious agitations in other northernstates of the country rendering them unattractive to tourists.

Tourism Policy

Lack of an Integrated Tourism Promotion Programme has hindered the growth of tourism.
Indifference of many states and union territories to tourism, which has not yet been accorded industry status by them, is another factor limiting its growth.

Suggestions

Association with Policy makers

Experts in the fields of hotel management and tourism must be associated with all the decision-making bodies.

Coordination

Better liaison should exist between State Tourism Department and ITDC.

Tourism Planning Board

A state level Tourism Planning Board can be set up to do perspective planning to provide the required fillip to the tourism industry in India.
Electricity and water to tourism & hospitality units should be charged at a subsidized rate and on actual consumption against fixed load.

Infrastructure Status

Grant infrastructure status to all hotels to allow them to avail electricity, water and land at industrial rates as well as better infrastructure lending rates with access to larger amounts of funds as external commercial borrowings. It will also make them eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Limited (IIFCL).

National Tourism Policy

A national tourism policy should be issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India which covers common protocols for entry of a tourist into a state. This will act as a uniform guideline for all states to follow.

Targeted Marketing Campaign

The states and union territories should have a targeted marketing campaign to communicate the safety measures taken by the Government at various tourist attractions and the private stakeholders to ensure the safety of the tourists when travelling to the destination.
This will help to educate tourists and build their confidence to travel for tourism purposes.

Leave Travel Allowance

The Government can provide tax rebate of upto rupees 1.5 lakhs for spending on Domestic holidays in the lines of the Leave Travel Allowance (LTA).

Tourism Fund

Creation a separate Tourism fund under the aegis of Ministry of Tourism to support the Hospitality and Travel Industry in this time of crisis. The fund should be accessible to the Industry as a collateral free 10-year loan.

Combating Pandemic Crisis

Stimulus package to stabilize and support the sector in the near term, including a workforce support fund to ensure that there are no job losses.

MSMEs as PSL

Lending to MSMEs in the Hospitality sector may be treated as ‘Priority Sector lending’, which will enable increased access to bank finance.

Steps taken to promote Tourism in India

DekhoApnaDesh

The 'DekhoApnaDesh' webinar series is an effort to showcase India’s rich diversity under “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.”
The DekhoApnaDesh Webinar Series is presented in technical partnership with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's Department of National e Governance.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

This is a central sector scheme ; e. - 100% funded by Central Government of India.
The funding available for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and Corporate Sector is also used in this scheme.
The scheme aims to promote, develop and harness the potential of tourism in India.
Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) is a type of tourism in which large groups, usually planned well in advance, are brought together. Recently there has been an industry trend towards using the term 'meetings industry' to avoid confusion from the acronym.
Aim: to promote India as a MICE Destination (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).
Central Financial Assistance to States/UTs under the schemes of SwadeshDarshan , National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD ) and Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.

e- visa Facilit y

Extension of e- visa facilit y to citizens of 167 countries.

Incredible India 2.0 campaign

Niche tourism products like Heritage Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Cruise Tourism, Rural Tourism, Wellness & Medical Tourism, MICE, Golf, etc. are being promoted through the Incredible India 2.0 Campaign.
Launch of 24x7 toll free multi-lingual tourist helpline in 12 International languages including Hindi and English.

Global Tourism Mart for India

Organisation of annual Global Tourism Mart for India in line with major international travel marts being held in countries across the world. It provides a platform for all stakeholders in tourism and hospitality industries to interact and transact business opportunities.

International Buddhist Conclave

Organisation of biennial International Buddhist Conclave. It showcases the Buddhist Heritage in India and boost tourism to the Buddhist sites in the country and cultivate friendly ties with countries and communities interested in Buddhism.

Annual International Tourism Mart

Organisation of Annual International Tourism Mart for promotion of tourism in North Eastern States.

“ Know India” seminars

Promotional activities in tourist generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices abroad with active participation in travel fairs and exhibitions; organizing Road Shows, “ Know India” seminars & workshops .

Swachh Paryatan

The Ministry of Tourism launched a mobile application called SwachhParyatan which will let citizens report any hygiene issues at various tourist destinations across the country.

Adarsh Smarak

ASI has identified 100 monuments to be developed as Model Monuments. These monuments would be provided necessary tourist facilities including Wi-Fi, security, signage, encroachment free area, interpretation centres showing short films about the importance of monuments and signboards of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Ministry of Tourism developed an initiative called SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) by partnering with the Quality Council of India (QCI) in October 2020.
The initiative will effectively implement guidelines/SOPs issued with reference to COVID-19 for safe operations of hotels, restaurants, B&Bs and other units.

Audio Odigos

Ministry of Tourism launched Audio Guide facility App called Audio Odigos for 12 sites in India (including iconic sites).

Adopt a Heritage Project

Ministry of Tourism has launched the ‘Adopt A Heritage’ project.
Heritage sites are being offered for adoption by the public sector, private sector and individuals to become ‘Monument Mitras’ for developing amenities and facilities at these sites under this programme.

‘Special Tourism Zones’

Creation of ‘Special Tourism Zones’ anchored on Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in partnership with the States.
Creation of Special Tourism Zones would lead to overall development of the areas and offer diverse tourism experiences which would help in creating livelihood and improve standards of local communities living in those areas.

Glass Top Coaches

Ministry of Tourism as part of its Rail Tourism Policy is collaborating with Ministry of Railways for manufacturing of three glass to coaches to be deployed on scenic rail routes of the country.
Two glass top coaches were launched in 2017 on the Vishakhapatnam – Araku Valley and Dadar to Madgaon route. The third glass top coach is being constructed for the Qazigund – Baramullah route in Jammu and Kashmir.
Tourism sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.9% to $460 bn by 2028 which is 9.9% of GDP.
Government of India is rightly working to achieve 2% share in world's international tourist arrivals by 2025.
To achieve its goals India needs a colossal move from the conventional marketing techniques that are still being followed to a much modern approach.
It is time to showcase the cultural diversity of the country and reinforce the principle of “Tourism for All”.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1823968

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Incredible India Campaign

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its “Incredible India” brand line is participating in ITB, Berlin 2023, showcasing India’s rich & diversified tourism potential.

About incredible india campaign:.

The ITB is a prestigious platform and is among the top international travel shows, where travel professionals come together to connect and showcase destinations and tourism products.
In view of promoting Incredible India holistically, the Ministry of Tourism has developed five thematic television commercials on different themes which are Adventure Tourism, Heritage Tourism, MICE Tourism, Art & Craft and Wellness Tourism.
Encouraging inbound travel and particularly in the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency as well as grand celebrations of India@75 ‘AzadikaAmritMahotsav’, the Ministry of Tourism has declared “Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023”.

Key facts about Incredible India Campaign

Incredible India is the name of an international tourism campaign maintained by the Government of India since 2002 , to promote tourism in India.
Incredible India 2.0 Campaign: It aims to shift from generic promotions to promotional plans specific to the market and content creation with thematic creatives depending on different niche products such as spiritual, medical, and wellness tourism.
The Incredible India 2.0 campaign focuses on promoting niche tourism products, including yoga, wellness, luxury, and cuisine wildlife.
Incredible India 2.0 represents the post-pandemic plan for Indians in the sector.
Nodal Ministry:Ministry of Tourism.

Scheme under Incredible India 2.0 Campaign:

The Holistic Island Development plan focuses on the Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) and Lakshadweep Islands.

Q1) What is Heritage tourism?

Heritage tourism means traveling with the primary purpose of exploring the history and heritage of a place. It may mean simple sightseeing of renowned historical architecture, visiting local museums that document the past through artifacts, art, and literary remains, or even something as quaint as sampling authentic historical recipes in their place of origin.

Source: The Ministry of Tourism inaugurates a pavilion at ITB, Berlin 2023, under its “Incredible India” brand line on 7th March

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Indian Tourism Industry to Generate $24 Billion in 2024 – India Report

Bulbul Dhawan , Skift

April 16th, 2024 at 11:00 PM EDT

Travel and tourism industry accounted for around 6% of India's GDP in 2022. The country has therefore been focusing on boosting tourism.

Bulbul Dhawan

The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.

The travel and tourism industry in India is projected to generate revenue of nearly $24 billion in 2024, according to industry promotions body India Brand Equity Foundation. At an estimated annual growth rate of 9.6% between 2024 and 2028, the industry is also expected to reach a market volume of $34.25 billion by 2028.

Revenue trend in India: In 2023, the tourism industry recorded a revenue of about $20 billion, according to Statista . Hotels accounted for the largest share of revenue last year. This year, however, this is expected to shift and package holidays are likely to be the biggest revenue generator in 2024. According to an ANI report , package holidays market is expected to reach 65 million travelers by 2028.

India’s efforts to boost tourism: The country has been focusing on boosting tourism, and has announced 100% foreign direct investment in tourism-related ventures in order to facilitate growth of the sector. Efforts are also being made to preserve heritage sites in India while creating quality tourism infrastructure to enhance visitor experience.

The road, rail, and air transportation infrastructure is also being improved. New highways, indigenous superfast trains , and regional airports are being concurrently developed across the country to make travel more convenient and inland destinations more accessible.

Radisson Opens First Hotel in Odisha

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the opening of Pramod Lands End Resort, a member of Radisson Individuals in Gopalpur, Odisha. The 100-room resort marks the group’s entry into Odisha. Radisson’s newly appointed area senior vice president for South Asia Nikhil Sharma said that Gopalpur has untapped tourism potential, and the company’s move to open a property in the location is part of its focus on tier 2 and 3 cities in India.

Radisson has more than 160 operational and developing hotels, with over 50% of its portfolio located in tier 2 and 3 markets. In 2023, the company signed 21 properties , and is especially focusing on key spiritual destinations and inland locations to gain from the first-mover advantage.

Fly91 Expands Network to Agatti, Jalgaon

India’s newest airline Fly91 is set to add two more destinations to its network this week, taking its operations to six destinations. Starting Thursday, the airline will fly between Goa and Agatti, Lakshadweep. It will also commence flights between Goa, Jalgaon and Hyderabad on April 18.

The budget airline commenced its operations last month and is currently flying between four destinations. It aims to enhance regional connectivity in India and has plans to expand its network to 50 cities over the next five years. For this, the airline is planning to induct 30 aircraft to its fleet.

ITC Hotels Open Storii Solan in Himachal Pradesh

ITC Hotels has announced the opening of Storii by ITC Hotels, The Kaba Retreat, Solan in Himachal Pradesh. The boutique property currently has 22 rooms and suites, with six cottages to open soon.

Storii by ITC Hotels serves experiential travelers. The company is focusing on expanding the brand as CEO Anil Chadha believes that it is quickly becoming a preferred brand in the segment. With the addition of the Solan property, four hotels are operational under the brand. More Storii hotels are set to come up in Kolkata, Rishikesh, Manali, Prayagraj, and Kufri as it is aiming to enhance its presence in leisure destinations.

Delhi Airport’s Conversion of Terminal T2 to All-International Delayed Till Next Year

The conversion of Delhi airport’s terminal T2 into an all-international terminal is delayed till April 2025, according to a Times of India report . The airport has three terminals of which T1 and T2 are fully domestic, while T3 handles domestic as well as international traffic. With T1 undergoing an expansion to double its capacity to 40 million passengers, the airport operators decided to convert T2 into an all-international terminal temporarily to better handle international traffic.

The initial plan was to begin the conversion of the terminal in July or August this year , after the expansion of domestic terminal T1 becomes operational in June. This would close T2 for a few months. However, the authorities have now decided to postpone the conversion work until after winter, as they want all terminals to be operational during the season. This is to avoid a repeat of winter last year when a key low-visibility runway was shut for repairs during the foggy season and led to delays.

EaseMyTrip Subsidiary Opens Hotel in McLeod Ganj

Spree Hospitality, a subsidiary of online travel company EaseMyTrip, has announced the opening of ZiP By Spree Hotels Bella Heights in McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh. The boutique property is a part of Spree Hospitality’s portfolio of more than 30 hotels.

The company focuses on boutique and mid-market segments, while operating full-service properties across India. It was acquired by EaseMyTrip in 2021.

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Tags: air traffic , air travel , airline , airlines , airport , aviation industry , aviation news , boutique hotels , delhi airport , easemytrip , hotels , india , india travel , itc hotels , online travel , online travel companies , radisson , radisson hotel group , revenue , skift india report , tourism , travel and tourism

Photo credit: In 2023, the tourism industry recorded a revenue of about $20 billion. Pixabay

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Day: April 19, 2024

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[PDF] DAY – 35 Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2024: Topic – ART & CULTURE, Subject-wise Test 2 , Textbook-based Test – 21 and March 2024 CA

[ admissions open : instakas ] kpsc kas prelims cum mains batch 5 dharwad(offline only).

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EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : India’s nuanced approach in the South China Sea

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[Mission 2024] INSIGHTS DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS + PIB SUMMARY 19 April 2024

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Nagorno-Karabakh Region

Mapping Source: TH Context: Russian peacekeepers have commenced withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan’s recapture of the disputed territory last year. The withdrawal comes after Azerbaijan’s lightning one-day offensive last September, triggering a refugee crisis and altering the area’s demographic landscape. The move also reflects ruptured ties between traditional allies Russia and Armenia, with Armenia …

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Vasuki Indicus

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: NDTV Context: A fossil vertebrae discovered in Gujarat has been confirmed as belonging to the largest snake to have ever lived, named ‘Vasuki Indicus.’ Unearthed in 2005 by scientists from IIT-Roorkee, the snake is estimated to have been 11-15 meters (about 50 feet) in length and weighed around …

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Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE)

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: PIB Context: DRDO inaugurated a Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE) at the Underwater Acoustic Research Facility in Kerala. Designed by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory, SPACE is a premier testing and evaluation hub for sonar systems for the Indian Navy. It consists of two …

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Nigeria introduced Men5CV vaccine

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: HT Context: Nigeria has introduced the world’s first vaccine against all strains of meningitis (Men5CV vaccine), aiming to alleviate the disease burden in Africa’s meningitis belt. The Men5CV vaccine, approved by the WHO, safeguards against five strains of meningococcus bacteria in one shot, surpassing earlier vaccines. Its introduction …

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‘Sleeping giant’ black hole

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: CNN Context: Astronomers have discovered the most massive known stellar black hole nicknamed “ Sleeping Giant” in the Milky Way galaxy, named Gaia BH3, located 1,926 light-years away in the Aquila constellation. Its mass is nearly 33 times that of the sun, making it the second-closest black hole …

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GPS spoofing

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Business Standard Context: Israel reportedly used GPS jamming to confuse Iran’s missile targeting teams ahead of Iran’s direct attack on Israel. This technique, similar to what the US allegedly did during India’s Kargil war in 1999, can hinder military operations by degrading GPS signals. The US initially employed …

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Sugar in baby food

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: IE Context: Nestlé’s baby food products in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were found to contain added sugars, while those sold in Europe did not. Added sugars in baby food pose health risks, including obesity and non-communicable diseases like diabetes. Excessive sugar intake can lead to unhealthy diets …

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FDI in the space sector

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Facts for Prelims (FFP) Source: Economic Times Context: The Ministry of Finance has notified Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regulations in the space sector under the Foreign Exchange Management Rules, allowing Indian space start-ups to access global capital. 74% FDI for satellite manufacturing, up to 49% for launch vehicles, and up to 100% for …

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Rivers in News

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Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) Source: IE Context: Kusum Jain, a champion for children’s rights, founded the Parents Forum for Meaningful Education (PFME) to address injustices faced by school children. She fought against corporal punishment and challenged exam secrecy laws, aiming to ensure transparency and dignity for students. Despite facing challenges and personal …

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India’s Arctic Expedition: Exploring New Frontiers

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GS1/ GS2 Paper Syllabus: Economic Geography/ Multilateral Treaties Source: Context: India recently concluded its first winter expedition to the Arctic in March 2024, marking a significant milestone in its Arctic exploration endeavours. What is an expedition? An expedition is a journey undertaken for a specific purpose, often involving exploration, scientific research, or achieving …

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[Mission 2024] STATIC QUIZ, 19 April 2024 – Economy

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Tourism Including Eco-tourism In India
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Tourism including Eco-tourism in India
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National Tourism Policy
For Prelims: Tourism in India, Schemes Related to tourism, Draft National Tourism Policy. ... UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Q.1 How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism? (2019)
Tourism Sector
The tourism sector contributes around 9% of the country's GDP. It has its share in employment, revenue, and forex reserves. India's third-largest source of foreign exchange is the tourism and hotel industry. India's tourism industry is a significant economic multiplier and is getting more crucial as the nation aims for rapid economic ...
Schemes under Ministry of Tourism
Introduction. Introduced in 2015, the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) is a government scheme that focuses on identifying and developing the pilgrim sites across the country to enrich the religious tourism experience.; It was launched by Union Ministry of Tourism. It aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in planned, prioritised and ...
Experiencing India's Diverse Tourism Offerings
For Prelims: Presidency of G20, Cultural Exchange, Cultural Heritage Sites, Eco-tourism, Himalayan regions, Unsustainable tourism, Pollution, Puri in Odisha, Hampi in Karnataka, Swadesh Darshan Scheme, Draft National Tourism Policy 2022, Dekho Apna Desh Initiative, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Public-private partnerships. For Mains: Significance of the Tourism Sector in India, Challenges ...
Tourism in India
India's Tourism is ranked at 7 th position in terms of its contribution to World GDP in World Travel and Tourism Council's report in 2017. India as of now in 2018 has 37 sites listed under 'World Heritage List', 6 th most highest (29 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed site) in the world. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai ...
Tourism Sector in India
What is the current status of Tourism Sector in India? Before the onset of the pandemic, the contribution of tourism sector to India's GDP had reached ~US$ 250 billion in 2018. However, the contribution had fallen to US$ 122 billion in 2020 due to pandemic. The share of Tourism to GDP has hovered around ~5-6%.
Evaluate the policies and schemes that are being used to promote
Topic: GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation GS-3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. 5. Evaluate the policies and schemes that are being used to promote tourism in India amidst the impact of covid-19 pandemic.
India's Potential in Tourism Sector
By 2030, India is estimated to grow at 7%-9% compounded annual growth rate and we expect the enabling policy framework to bring in $250 billion in GDP contribution from tourism, 140 million jobs in the tourism sector and $56 billion in foreign exchange earnings with more than 25 million foreign arrivals. Challenges.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme| Theme-Based Tourist Circuits By Ministry Of Tourism
Swadesh Darshan is a Central Sector Scheme. It was launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. It envisages theme-based tourist circuits in the country. These tourist circuits will be developed on the principles of high tourist value, competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner.
Tourism Sector in India
The number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2014 is 8 million (up from 5 mm in 2009-10), 7 % to GDP. World average 10%. 10%. employment. Finally, compared to other modern sectors, a higher proportion of tourism benefits (jobs, petty trade opportunities) accrue to women. Internationally 7 0% jobs in tourism to women.
Cultural Tourism in India
Tamil Nadu is renowned for cultural tourism in India as well because it exhibits Dravidian customs and culture. Its numerous temples reflect India's rich cultural heritage. Numerous tourist attractions in Uttar Pradesh attest to the nation's rich cultural heritage. The Taj Mahal in Agra is the most well-known structure.
National Tourism Policy [UPSC Notes]
National Tourism Policy Objectives. The Policy's primary strategic goals are: To make India a year-round travel destination and to increase visitors, spending, and time spent there in order to boost the contribution of tourism to the Indian economy. To create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities in the tourism sector and ensure the supply ...
Draft National Tourism Policy
Different forms of Tourism like Business Tourism, Health Tourism, and Wildlife Tourism etc. were introduced in India after seventh FYP. Status: India's Tourism is ranked at 10 th position in terms of its contribution to World GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the World Travel and Tourism Council's report in 2019.
[Burning Issue] Tourism Sector of India
The sector is expected to grow at an annual average growth rate of 7.9% till 2023, making India the third fastest-growing tourism destination over the next decade. Tourism in India provides 40 million jobs. The industry provided more than 23.5 million jobs in 2015. Over 7.7% of Indian employees work in the tourism industry.
Tourism including Eco-tourism in India
The tourism industry in India generated about 100 US$ billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 6.9% annual growth rate. According to World Tourism Organization estimates, India will lead in South Asia with 8.9 million arrivals by 2020.
Tourism (UPSC Notes)
India is ranked 10th in terms of t tourism's total contribution to GDP, contributing 4.7% to total GDP. It is a labor-intensive sector, accounting for 39 million jobs (2020) and significantly impacts trade, investment, social inclusion, etc. But India has not been able to exploit the potential of tourism to full capacity (corroborated by ...
Sansad TV: Perspective- Promoting Tourism
Introduction: Tourism sector in India is a significant economic multiplier and is becoming increasingly important as the country strives for rapid economic growth and employment creation. Despite the tourism sector being severely affected by COVID, India witnessed a jump in Foreign Tourist Arrivals in 2022. The Draft National Tourism Policy formulated by the … Continue reading "Sansad TV ...
TOURISM SECTOR OF INDIA
Conclusion. Tourism sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.9% to $460 bn by 2028 which is 9.9% of GDP. Government of India is rightly working to achieve 2% share in world's international tourist arrivals by 2025. To achieve its goals India needs a colossal move from the conventional marketing techniques that are still being followed ...
Incredible India Campaign
Incredible India is the name of an international tourism campaign maintained by the Government of India since 2002, to promote tourism in India. Incredible India 2.0 Campaign: It aims to shift from generic promotions to promotional plans specific to the market and content creation with thematic creatives depending on different niche products ...
Tourism Sector In India
Given this, India should seek to actively support the tourism sector, as the sector contributes an estimated 10% to the Indian economy and is our biggest ambassador to the world. Further, India has inherent competitive advantages as it offers a diverse portfolio of niche tourism products - cruises, adventure, medical, wellness, sports, eco ...
Schemes
Sr.No. Title. 1. Approved Revised Guidelines for Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) effective from 10.03.2022. Revised MDA Guidelines 10032022.pdf. 2. Approved Revised Guidelines for Champion Services Sector Scheme (CSSS Scheme) - Incentive to Tour Operators for Enhancing Tourist Arrivals to India. Approved Revised Guidelines For CSSS ...
Indian Tourism Industry to Generate $24 Billion in 2024
Learn More. The travel and tourism industry in India is projected to generate revenue of nearly $24 billion in 2024, according to industry promotions body India Brand Equity Foundation. At an ...
Rethinking and Reimagining Tourism
Post Covid-19, it is a challenge for the tourism sector in India to return to business as usual while maintaining safety and hygiene. The crisis is an opportunity to consider the long-term implications of the crisis and reimagine the future of tourism and take coordinated action across governments at all levels and the private sector.
UPSC CDS 1 English Question Paper 2024: Pattern, Marking Scheme, PDF
Updated on Apr 18, 2024 16:38 IST. CDS 1 English question paper will be released by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on April 21, 2024. The candidates will be able to download the CDS 1 English question paper after the exam is concluded. The candidates can check the CDS English previous years' question papers and more in the article.
Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Himalayan Region : NITI Aayog
Opportunities and paradigms of the tourism sector. India ranks 15th in the world in terms of International Tourism Receipts, with a share of 1.62%. India registered 8.03 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2015, an annual growth of 4.5% over the previous year.
Insights Ias
Insights IAS: Simplifying UPSC IAS Exam Preparation. InsightsIAS has redefined, revolutionized and simplified the way aspirants prepare for UPSC IAS Civil Services Exam. Today, it's India's top website and institution when it comes to imparting quality content, guidance and teaching for the IAS Exam.

Tourism Sector in India – Explained, pointwise

Introduction

What is the current status of Tourism Sector in India?

What are the driving factors of Tourism Sector in India?

What are the challenges faced by the Tourism Sector in India?

What steps have been taken for the development of Tourism Sector in India?

What more steps can be taken going ahead?

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TOURISM SECTOR OF INDIA

Incredible India Campaign

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India under its “Incredible India” brand line is participating in ITB, Berlin 2023, showcasing India’s rich & diversified tourism potential.

Key facts about Incredible India Campaign

Scheme under Incredible India 2.0 Campaign:

Q1) What is Heritage tourism?

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Indian Tourism Industry to Generate $24 Billion in 2024 – India Report

Radisson Opens First Hotel in Odisha

Fly91 Expands Network to Agatti, Jalgaon

ITC Hotels Open Storii Solan in Himachal Pradesh

Delhi Airport’s Conversion of Terminal T2 to All-International Delayed Till Next Year

EaseMyTrip Subsidiary Opens Hotel in McLeod Ganj

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Day: April 19, 2024

[PDF] DAY – 36 Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2024: Topic – ART & CULTURE, Subject-wise Test 17 , Textbook-based Test – 22 and March 2024 CA