Tourism in India

Tourism emerged as the largest global industry of the 20th century and is projected to grow even faster in the 21st century. India has immense possibilities of growth in the tourism sector with vast cultural and religious heritage, varied natural attractions, but a comparatively small role in the world tourism scene. Looking from this angle, India should have been a tourism haven as the country is blessed with tourism destinations and products catering to the tastes and preferences of tourists and travellers of all ages and economic backgrounds. ... This, coupled with the adverse travel advisories, has thrown the growth of Indian tourism off-gear in spite of some major initiatives on the policy front. ...

India's share in world tourism receipts has been 0. ... According to RBI sources, tourism receipts in India in 2001 stood at US $ 3. ... The upwardly mobile section of the Indian population is more inclined to travelling abroad rather than visiting various Indian destinations, thanks to the high cost of domestic air travel and its price disadvantage vis-а-vis neighbouring destinations because of the high taxes on tourism. ...

The domestic tourism has witnessed a sustained boom. ...

The Indian Tourism Industry has largely remained ignored, performing well below its potential, despite the fact that India has a unique heritage and culture and a wide gamut of tourism attraction it has to offer to the world. Surprisingly, despite the winds of liberalization blowing across the country, tourism seems to have been the least affected. ... The present growth of tourism industry is Rs 6 lakh crore now or 5. ... 8

The Facts

Ð'* The Tourism Industry currently contributes 5. ... 3 billion during 2000 as compared to US$ 3 billion during 1999 (Source: Department of Tourism). ...

Ð'* The Indian travel and tourism industry has shown a healthy growth in the review period, with tourism spending within the country Ð'- domestic and inbound Ð'- growing by 87% to a value of Rs966 billion in 2001. ... This downturn was worsened as the year progressed due to heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan which further deterred inbound tourism.

Ð'* Travel and tourism is the second highest foreign exchange earner for India, and the government has given agencies in this industry export