Development & Growth of Tourism in India

India has developed programs to attract visitors and to showcase the many vacation options available. Increased nonstop flights from both Europe and North America facilitated these efforts by making the trip much shorter. As such, the industry is well-positioned for growth and to achieve a higher proportion of world-wide tourism revenues.

History

The Indian government began promoting tourism in 1956 with the inauguration of several multi-year plans. Most of these targeted specific projects and did not involve an overall strategy. It was not until the 1980s that government proposed integrating national, state and private tourism entities into one national policy promoting growth. A tourism finance corporation was established in 1989 to help finance projects, including catering and hotel management institutes to train hospitality-industry staff.

Facts

Although hit by the worldwide recession in 2008 and 2009, India tourism grew, but at rates less than the 10 percent growth experienced from 1990 to the mid-2000s. While domestic tourism has driven those numbers, Indian Data, a firm that tracks economic statistics for several industries, predicts India will become a top world-wide tourist destination due to a global shift from Europe to Asia as favored destinations. The company also predicts domestic tourism will increase due to the country's overall economic growth. Tourism is the second largest earner of foreign exchange.

Promotion

The Indian government has aggressively promoted tourism, particularly in North America and Europe. The "Incredible India" slogan promotes various aspects of the country, and is seen in print and television ads. India maintains tourist offices throughout India, as well as almost 20 other countries. Government rules have been liberalized to make it easier to obtain licenses for tourism-related industries, and foreign investors can invest more freely in tourist infrastructure, such as hotels, which has led to a building boom.

Types

While visits to the Taj Mahal, Jaipur and Delhi continue as top tourist draws, India offers several other options that fuel tourism growth. Adventure tourism such as visits to wildlife preserves, and white-water river rafting are growing in popularity. One adventure takes visitors on the Ganges River as it spills out of the Himalayas. Spiritual tourism relating to Hindu sects and health retreats featuring yoga are other options. Medical tourism, a new segment, offers Western-style medical treatment at a fraction of the cost in the West.

Considerations

While India tourism has grown over the past two decades, India's infrastructure still lacks the sophistication of North America and Europe. New hotels spring up frequently in the major cities to keep up with demand, but capacity often falls short. As a result, newer hotels can be expensive. Ground transportation between major cities and tourist sites can be crowded and uncomfortable, particularly in a bus or car via a pothole-filled road. While fine for the adventurous, those less inclined may opt for a good tour operator who can minimize these discomforts.

References

• Indian Press Information: Tourism
• Indian Data: Travel Overview
• Euromonitor: India Tourism Receipts