India is every tourist’s delight and celebrates National Tourism Day on the 25th of January every year.
Tourism in India – The Opportunity
From the snow-capped peaks of the majestic Himalayas to the pristine beaches of India’s long coastline, from the silence of the Thar desert to the lush green plains of the Gangetic valley, from vast undulating plateaus to verdant valleys, from powerful rivers to picturesque beaches, from innumerable varieties of flora to a huge array of fauna; India’s vast natural heritage never fails to mesmerise.
But that is not all. As home to the oldest continuous civilisation in the world, India’s tangible heritage has to be seen and experienced to be believed. From the 40 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List to the virtually infinite exquisite pieces of art and architecture that are spread across the length and breadth of Bharat, there is never a dearth of places to visit in India to appreciate the desire of generations of Indians to build heaven on earth.
Beyond her tangible heritage, it is India’s intangible cultural medley of sounds, sights, colours, tastes and experiences that define Bharat, a Bharat that is on a journey from the sanatan to the modern. From the aesthetics of her classical and regional art, music and dance forms to the untold intricacies of her handlooms and handicrafts, from yoga to ayurveda, from religion and spirituality to the sensual delights of diverse cuisines and traditions, India has virtually everything to offer to everyone.
India is also an emerging global hub for the business traveller and the medical traveller, for the adventure enthusiast and the lifestyle tourist.
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Tourism in India – Economic Importance
Notwithstanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on tourism globally, the importance of tourism and hospitality to the socio-economic development of a nation cannot be overstated, especially for a country like India. Let us look at some important statistics that underscore the importance of the tourism sector to India’s economy.
- In FY20 (financial year 19-20), the tourism sector in India accounted for 39.8 million jobs, which was ~8.0% of the total employment in the country. By 2029, the sector is expected to account for about 53 million jobs.
- According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), India was ranked 10th among 185 countries in terms of travel & tourism’s total contribution to GDP in 2019.
- Travel and Tourism in India was the largest service industry in 2018 and was worth $234 bn. The tourism industry in India became one of the largest Foreign Exchange Earners with earnings of $29.962 billion over Jan 2019 – Dec 2019. This was a growth of ~ 4.8% over the previous year.
- During 2019, the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 6.8% of the total economy, ~ Rs. 13,68,100 crore (US$ 194.30 billion). The sector in India is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.9% to $460 bn by 2028 which will account for ~ 9.9% of India’s GDP.
Tourism in India – Our Responsibility as a People
Athiti Devo Bhava. India has always welcomed international tourists with open arms and while it is incumbent upon us to build the world’s best tourism and hospitality industry which makes our international guests feel safe and cared for as they experience this ancient and new land, it is also our responsibility to travel within our own nation to contribute to the well being of our citizens. And as we Dekho Apna Desh and travel across the length and the breadth of Bharat, each of needs to follow and uphold the principles of responsible tourism so that we can preserve our tangible and intangible heritage for our future generations.
Jai Hind!
References
- https://www.ibef.org/industry/tourism-hospitality-india.aspx
- https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/tourism-hospitality
Links retrieved on January 25th, 2022
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