Importance of tourism industries in India?

Answer 1

Taken from the related link posted below:

"India's tourism industry is experiencing a strong period of growth, driven by the burgeoning Indian middle class, growth in high spending foreign tourists, and coordinated government campaigns to promote 'Incredible India'.

"The tourism industry in India is substantial and vibrant, and the country is fast becoming a major global destination. India's travel and tourism industry is one of them most profitable industries in the country, and also credited with contributing a substantial amount of foreign exchange. This is illustrated by the fact that during 2006, four million tourists visited India and spent US $8.9 billion.

"Several reasons are cited for the growth and prosperity of India's travel and tourism industry. Economic growth has added millions annually to the ranks of India's middle class, a group that is driving domestic tourism growth. Disposable income in India has grown by 10.11% annually from 2001-2006, and much of that is being spent on travel.

"Thanks in part to its booming IT and outsourcing industry a growing number of business trips are made by foreigners to India, who will often add a weekend break or longer holiday to their trip. Foreign tourists spend more in India than almost any other country worldwide. Tourist arrivals are projected to increase by over 22% per year through till 2010, with a 33% increase in foreign exchange earnings recorded in 2004.

"The Tourism Ministry has also played an important role in the development of the industry, initiating advertising campaigns such as the "Incredible India" campaign, which promoted India's culture and tourist attractions in a fresh and memorable way. The campaign helped create a colorful image of India in the minds of consumers all over the world, and has directly led to an increase in the interest among tourists.

"India's governmental bodies have also made a significant impact in tourism by requiring that each and every state of India have a corporation to administer support issues related to tourism.

"A new growth sector is medical tourism. It is currently growing at around 30% per annum. Medical tourist arrivals are expected to reach one million soon.

"The tourism industry of India is based on certain core nationalistic ideals and standards which are: Swaagat or welcome, Sahyog or cooperation, Soochanaa or information, Sanrachanaa or infrastructure, Suvidha or facilitation, Safaai or cleanliness and Surakshaa or security."

Answer 2

Role and Functions of the Ministry of Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism functions as the nodal agency for the development of tourism in the country. It plays a crucial role in coordinating and supplementing the efforts of the State/Union Territory Governments, catalyzing private investment, strengthening promotional and marketing efforts and in providing trained manpower resources. The functions of the Ministry in this regard mainly consist of the following:

i. All Policy Matters, including:

a. Development Policies.

b. Incentives.

c. External Assistance.

d. Manpower Development.

e. Promotion & Marketing.

f. Investment Facilitation.

ii. Planning

iii. Co-ordination with other Ministries, Departments, State/UT Governments.

iv. Regulation:

a. Standards.

b. Guidelines

v. Infrastructure & Product Development.

a. Central Assistance.

vi. Human Resource Development

a. Institutions

b. Setting Standards and Guidelines.

vii. Publicity & Marketing:

a. Policy.

b. Strategies.

c. Co-ordination.

d. Supervision

viii. Research, Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation

ix. International Co-operation and External Assistance

a. International Bodies.

b. Bilateral Agreements.

c. External Assistance.

d. Foreign Technical Collaboration

x. Legislation and Parliamentary Work

xi. Establishment matters.

xii. Vigilance matters.

xiii. Implementation of official language policy.

xiv. Budget co-ordination and related matters.

xv. Plan-coordination and monitoring.

The Functions of Attached Office viz. Directorate General of Tourism are as under [The office of DG (T) has now been merged with the office of Secretary (Tourism)]:

i. Assistance in the formulation of policies by providing feedback from the field offices.

ii. Monitoring of Plan Projects and assisting in the Plan formulation

iii. Coordinating the activities of field offices and their supervision.

iv. Regulation:

a. Approval and classification of hotels and restaurants.

b. Approval of travel agents, Inbound tour operators and tourist transport operators, etc.

v. Inspection & Quality Control

a.Guide service.

b.Complaints and redressal.

vi. Infrastructure Development:

a. Release of incentives.

b. Tourist facilitation and information.

c. Field publicity, promotion & marketing.

d. Hospitality programmes.

e. Conventions & conferences.

vii. Assistance for Parliamentary work.

Answer 3

Tourism brings the much needed Foreign Exchange into the country's economy. The more tourists visit India, the better will be India's FX reserves and better would be our economy.

Answer 4

it can ascsdccv xssoicdnasncishcshc d