Short Note- Tourism in India

As per data available with the government, the arrival of foreign tourists in India rose by 5.2% and the total number of foreign tourists arriving in India is now 1.05 crore in 2018.

These foreign tourists have contributed to the foreign exchange earnings of the 1.94 lakh crore in the past year. This is 9.6% higher than the previous year.

Tourism in India

• India has a composite culture where a harmonious blend of art, religion, and philosophy exists. This, coupled with one of the oldest continuously inhabited civilizations in the world have created a great potential for tourism in India.
• Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner in India.
• The tourism industry employs a large number of skilled and unskilled workforce.
• In India, Tourism is the largest service industry where hotels, travel agencies, transport including airlines benefit.
• Schemes to promote tourism in India are Swadesh Darshan, National Mission for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme etc.
• Swadesh Darshan aims to develop world-class infrastructure to promote cultural and heritage value of the country and enhance the tourist attractiveness with a total of 27 projects in 21 States and Union Territories sanctioned since its launch in January 2015.
• PRASAD aims for the beautification and development of pilgrimage sites to tap the growth of domestic tourists.

Where it lags?

India is still far behind in earning and harnessing from much of its tourism potential. Tourism in India can become a viable industry if effective and concerted steps are taken by the concerned authorities. These include the removal of red-tapism should be ended, improving local facilities, providing better concierge services etc.