Tourism Sector in India – Explained ( UPSC Notes)

Government Initiatives

HRIDAY
- Heritage cities
- 12 cities
- 100% centrally funded
PRASAD
- Religous cities
- 12 again
- Gaya in both
Swadesh Darshan
- Theme based tourism circuits
- 13 circuits identified/ developed
  - Ramayana circuit, Krishna, Buddhist, Himalayas Wildlife
Medical Tourism
- Advantage Health Care India – International Summit
E-Visa
- The duration has been extended to 60 days
Visa on Arrival , PIO card

Types of Tourism

Statistics

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 70% jobs in tourism to women

Foreign exchange earning-
- 20 billion dollars
- 2nd Largest
WEF Tourism Competitiveness Index
- India moves up 12 places at 40th
- Largest leap by any country in top 50
- But footfalls still short of countries like France
  - Reasons – Schengen, Temperature, Infra, Safety

Strategy

Government would need to adopt a ‘pro-poor tourism’ approach aimed at increasing the net benefits that flow to the poor from tourism. It includes expansion of local employment through commitment to creation of local jobs and training of locals for employment; expansion of business opportunities for small and micro businesses
The implementation of these strategies will involve developing formal and informal links between all stakeholders and coordination across all levels of Government.

Issues

Infrastructure – Roads, Hotels, Parks
Human Resources – Guides, Female Guides
Security – Scarlet Keening
Environment – Manali, Climate Change
Extremism – Darjeeling
Lack of Awareness – Shortage of ICT connectivity , Inadequate focus on Spiti Valley in Himachal or Tribal tourism of Jharkahand
In addition, in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, India performs badly on
- Health and Hygiene
- IT connectivity
- Prioritisation of Tourism

STEPS REQUIRED

Single national level smart cards for all tolls
Extension of E- Tourist window to 150 days instead of 60 currently ( Eco Survey )
National Cruise Strategy
Sustainable Tourism
Taking Locals into cohgnisance
Hotels, Roads
Internet and Awareness
Guides
And all the steps for above issues

Medical Tourism

To obtain healthcare
In particular of 2 kinds
- Complex specialised surgeries like join replacement, cardiac, dental
  - From Afghanistan, Ban in particular
  - But, also from Advanced west like US, UK due to cheap cost
- Ayurveda tourism in Kerala
Driven mainly by private sector
3 billion $
2 lakh people every year

E-tourist VISA

Sustainable Tourism –
- Bottomline – Environment , People, Tourists
- Environment
  - Manali – NGT Ban
  - Floods – Uttarakhand
  - Taj Mahal – Pollution
- People
  - Kasaul – Drug Tourism
  - Sex Tourism
  - Revenue should stay with the tourists
- Tourists
  - Basic Infra
  - Points on Skill, Awareness,
- Scheme
  - Ministry of Tousim – Sustainable tourism Criteria of India

National Tourism Policy (Draft), 2011

Features

By 2017, to host 1% of global tourists (current 0.7%). This would require additional 400k hotel rooms and would create 25 mm jobs.
To target 12 per cent annual growth in this sector in the Twelfth Five Year Plan.

Cruise Shipping Policy, 2008

Potential of Cruise Shipping

Cruise Shipping refers to leisurely passenger shipping. It beneficial not only in tourism terms but also in promoting the handicrafts industry.

Features

It provides for better fiscal regime, better port and connectivity facilities and liberal immigration regime.
A Steering Committee formed in 2010 envisaged developing 5 ports of Goa, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai and Mangalore and including inland river cruising as LTC for government employees.

Tourism Initiatives for North East