India’s travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations, and it is poised to be a key axis of development in the coming years. The path to developing tourism in mission mode has been outlined in Budget 2023, which marks the start of Amrit Kaal, the period of intense robust growth.
The goal is to create 50 destinations
- The G20 presidency of India and the Prime Minister’s vision to develop 50 tourist destinations across the country have provided a significant boost to the tourism sector.
- Global ranking: The World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index is expected to improve India’s global ranking as a result of this initiative.
- Employment opportunities: The development of these destinations will increase employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s overall GDP growth.
The central government’s tourism push
- Several policies and initiatives: The central government is committed to assisting the travel and tourism industry through a variety of policies and initiatives.
- Six development themes for the Union budget: The Union budget has identified six themes for sector development: convergence, public-private participation, creativity, innovation, digitization, and destination development.
Collaboration’s Strength
- Collaboration is critical: Collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities is critical for tourism development and promotion in India. This collaborative approach fosters creativity, boosts competitiveness, and yields visionary results.
- For example, the Prime Minister has cited successful collaborations such as Kashi, Kedarnath, the Statue of Unity, and Pavagadh to show how a coordinated approach can boost tourism in a region.
Role of Technology in Tourism
- Technology and tourism are becoming increasingly interdependent, and a coordinated approach that incorporates technology can help India’s tourism sector.
- Augmented and virtual reality: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) can provide virtual tours and simulations of famous landmarks and cultural experiences to travellers.
- Chatbots and digital assistants powered by artificial intelligence (AI) can help travellers plan their trips and provide real-time assistance while travelling.
The “6P” strategy for maximising India’s tourism potential
- Planning, Place, People, Policy, Process, and Promotion are the six Ps.
- To realise India’s tourism potential, a comprehensive strategy addressing the six key pillars 6Ps is required.
- The government’s Budget Session effectively addressed all of these 6Ps by addressing destination planning and management, infrastructure development, sustainability and safety, human capital development, policy and process interventions to align the Centre and states, and promoting the narrative of Indian tourism.
Tourism as a state issue
- Tourism is a state subject under the constitution, and the central tourism department has been advocating for it to be moved to the Concurrent List so that policy can be made at both the federal and state levels.
- The designation of tourism infrastructure will provide additional impetus to the sector’s growth.
- The government is also thinking about establishing a National Tourism Board.
@the end
With the right policies and initiatives in place, now is the ideal time for India to accelerate its efforts to become one of the top three travel and tourism economies in the world.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/voices/indias-tourism-sector-witnessed-mega-growth-in-2022/