Introduction:
Tourism development in India has passed through
many phases. At Government level the development
of tourist facilities was taken up in a planned manner
in 1956 coinciding with the Second Five Year Plan. The
approach has evolved from isolated planning of single
unit facilities in the Second and Third Five Year Plans.
The Sixth Plan marked the beginning of a new era
when tourism began to be considered a major instru-
ment for social integration and economic develop-
ment.
But it was only after the 80’s that tourism activity
gained momentum. The Government took several sig-
nificant steps. A National Policy on tourism was an-
nounced in 1982. Later in 1988, the National Com-
mittee on Tourism formulated a comprehensive plan
for achieving a sustainable growth in tourism. In
1992, a National Action Plan was prepared and in
1996 the National Strategy for Promotion of Tourism
was drafted. In 1997, a draft new tourism policy in
tune with the economic policies of the Government
and the trends in tourism development was published
for public debate. The draft policy is now under revi-
sion. The proposed policy recognises the roles of Cen-
tral and State governments, public sector undertak-
ings and the private sector in the development of
tourism. The need for involvement of Panchayati Raj
institutions, local bodies, non-governmental organisa-
tions and the local youth in the creation of tourism fa-
cilities has also been recognised.
The other major development that took place were
the setting up of the India Tourism Development Cor-
poration in 1966 to promote India as a tourist desti-
nation and the Tourism Finance Corporation in 1989
to finance tourism projects. Altogether, 21 Govern-
ment-run Hotel Management and Catering Technol-
ogy Institutes and 14 Food Craft Institutes were also
established for imparting specialised training in hote-
liering and catering.
Tourist Attractions
India is a country known for its lavish treatment to all
visitors, no matter where they come from. Its visitor-
friendly traditions, varied life styles and cultural her-
itage and colourful fairs and festivals held abiding at-
tractions for the tourists. The other attractions in-
clude beautiful beaches, forests and wild life and
landscapes for eco-tourism, snow, river and mountain
peaks for adventure tourism, technological parks and
science museums for science tourism; centres of pil-
grimage for spiritual tourism; heritage trains and ho-
tels for heritage tourism. Yoga, ayurveda and natural
health resorts also attract tourists. The Indian handi-
crafts particularly, jewellery, carpets, leather goods,
ivory and brass work are the main shopping items of
foreign tourists. The estimates available through sur-
veys indicate that nearly forty per cent of the tourist
expenditure on shopping is spent on such items.
Growth
Domestic tourism is as old as the Indian society. Ac-
cording to available statistics, domestic tourism has
grown substantially during the last one decade.
It increased to 167 million in 1998 from just 64 mil-
lion in 1990, thus registering a compound annual
growth of 12.8 per cent. The growth of inbound
tourism since Independence has been quite impres-
sive. It was just around 17 thousand in 1951. From
this level it rose to 2.36 million in 1998. Tourism re-
ceipts on the other hand have grown at a phenome-
nal rate of 17 per cent to Rs.11,540 crore in 1998
from Rs.7.7 crore in 1951.
Economic Impact
Tourism has emerged as an instrument of employ-
ment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable
human development. During 1998-99, employment
generation through tourism was estimated at 14.79
million. Foreign exchange earnings from the tourism
sector during 1998-99 were estimated at Rs.12,011
crore. Tourism has thus become the second largest
net foreign exchange earner for the country. Tourism
also contributed Rs.24,241 crore during 1998-99 to-
wards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Thrust Areas
In order to speed up the development of tourism in
the country several thrust areas have been identified
for accomplishment during the Ninth Five Year Plan
(1997-2002). The important ones are development of
infrastructure, products, trekking, winter sports,
wildlife and beach resorts and streamlining of facilita-
tion procedures at airports, human resource develop-
ment and facilitating private sector participation in
the growth of infrastructure.
Organisation
The organisations involved in the development of
tourism in India are the Ministry of Tourism with its
21 field offices within the country and 18 abroad, In-
dian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management,
National Council for Hotel Management and Catering
Technology, India Tourism Development Corporation,
Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering and the
National Institute of Water Sports.
Boosting Tourism
Some of the recent initiatives taken by the Govern-
ment to boost tourism include grant of export house
status to the tourism sector and incentives for pro-
moting private investment in the form of Income Tax
exemptions, interest subsidy and reduced import
duty. The hotel and tourism-related industry has been
declared a high priority industry for foreign invest-
ment which entails automatic approval of direct in-
vestment up to 51 per cent of foreign equity and al-
lowing 100 per cent non-resident Indian investment
and simplifying rules regarding the grant of approval
to travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport
operators.
Celebrations
During the Golden Jubilee celebrations of India as a
Republic, the Ministry of Tourism made special efforts
to publicise the tourism potential of India. The first-
ever Indian Tourism Day was celebrated on January
25, 1998. Bauddha Mahotsav was organised from
24th October to 8th November 1998. The Year 1999
was celebrated as Explore India Millennium Year by
presenting a spectacular tableau on the cultural her-
itage of India at the Republic Day Parade and organis-
ing India Tourism Expo in New Delhi and Khajuraho.
The Wong La Millennium was held from April 1999 to
January 2001. A special calendar of events has been
formulated for highlighting contributions to Millen-
nium events by various places in all the States. An
official website of the Ministry of Tourism has also
been created for facilitating dissemination of informa-
tion on tourism.
Constraints
The major constraint in the expansion of international
tourist traffic to India is nonavailability of adequate
infrastructure including adequate air seat capacity,
accessibility to tourist destinations, accommodation
and trained manpower in sufficient number. To sum
up, Indian tourism has vast potential for generating
employment and earning large sums of foreign ex-
change besides giving a fillip to the country’s overall
economic and social development. Much has been
achieved by way of increasing air seat capacity, in-
creasing trains and railway connectivity to important
tourist destinations, four-laning of roads connecting
important tourist centres and increasing availability of
accommodation by adding heritage hotels to the ho-
tel industry and encouraging paying guest accommo-
dation. But much more remains to be done. Since
tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a
service industry, it would be necessary that all wings
of the Central and State governments, private sector
and voluntary organisations become active partners
in the endeavour to attain sustainable growth in
tourism if India is to become a world player in the
tourist industry.
Benefits of Tourism
There are a number of benefits of tourism for both
the tourist and the host destination. On a large scale
it offers a good alternative to some more destructive
industries for generating income both on nationally
and privately.
The tourism industry encompasses many different ar-
eas, so it also creates jobs in many different areas.
With tourism comes hotels, resturants, car rental
agencies, tour companies, service stations, souvenier
shops, sports equipment rentals, and much more. All
of this creates many different levels of employment
for people in a given community.
In many places the introduction and development of
tourism allows local people an opportunity for eco-
nomic and educational growth that would not other-
wise be available. In addition, it allows both the
tourist and the local community a chance to experi-
ence other cultures, which broadens understanding.
If properly used, tourism generated income can be
tremendously beneficial to the host country and it's
local communities. Tourism generated income can be
used on a national and local level to better education,
improve infrastructure, to fund conservation efforts,
and to promote more responsible tourism.
CONCLUSION:
India's tourism industry has undergone a re-
markable transformation since its inception,
evolving into a significant contributor to the
country's economic growth and cultural ex-
change. From the ancient monuments and nat-
ural wonders to the vibrant culture and diverse
heritage, India has emerged as a premier
tourist destination on the global stage.
Despite facing challenges such as infrastructure
gaps and environmental concerns, India's
tourism sector has demonstrated resilience and
adaptability. The government's initiatives to
promote tourism, such as the "Incredible India"
campaign, have yielded positive results, at-
tracting millions of visitors each year.
As India continues to develop its tourism infra-
structure, it is essential to prioritize sustainabil-
ity, responsible travel practices, and commu-
nity engagement. By doing so, India can ensure
that tourism becomes a catalyst for economic
development, cultural preservation, and envi-
ronmental conservation.
Future Directions
· Sustainable tourism practices and eco-
tourism initiatives
· Development of rural and niche tourism
destinations
· Enhancement of tourist infrastructure and
amenities
· Promotion of cultural heritage and intangi-
ble tourism assets
· Encouragement of digital tourism and vir-
tual experiences
By embracing these opportunities and address-
ing the challenges, India can unlock the full po-
tential of its tourism sector, creating a unique
and enriching experience for visitors while con-
tributing to the country's socio-economic
growth and cultural diversity.
Key Statistics
· India's tourism industry accounts for 6.8%
of the country's GDP (2020)
· Foreign tourist arrivals in India increased by
3.2% in 2020 (Ministry of Tourism)
· India aims to increase its tourism share to
10% of global tourist arrivals by 2025 (Vi-
sion 2025)
Bibliography
1. Government Reports
o Ministry of Tourism, Government of In-
dia. (2020). India Tourism Statistics.
2. Academic Journals
o Kumar, S., & Sharma, S. (2020). Sustain-
able Tourism Development in India. Jour-
nal of Tourism and Hospitality Educa-
tion, 11(1).
3. Books
o Singh, R. K. (2019). Tourism Develop-
ment in India: A Critical Analysis. Rout-
ledge.
o Kumar, V. (2018). Sustainable Tourism
in India: Issues and Challenges.
Springer.
4. Online Resources
o World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
(2020). India Tourism Highlights.
5. News Articles
o The Economic Times. (2022). India's
Tourism Sector: A Key Driver of Eco-
nomic Growth.
o The Hindu BusinessLine. (2022). Tourism
Industry in India: A Long Way to Go.
6. Research Papers
o Kumar, S., & Sharma, S. (2019). Assess-
ing the Impact of Tourism on Local Com-
munities in India.
