| The first half of 2009 has been sordid thanks to the | | | | The country is witnessing a huge influx of tourists from |
| invasion of the recession, terrorism and new health | | | | all over the world for medical treatment purposes. This |
| concerns that have left many key industries across | | | | calls for steadying up the healthcare facilities and |
| India and the rest of the world in a lurch. The ghosts of | | | | switching on the 'always on the ready' mode in terms |
| 2008 just refuse to die down and continue to haunt | | | | of modernisation of equipments and qualified |
| the world economies! While the global tourism industry | | | | manpower. The invasion of new health scares like the |
| and the Indian tourism industry in particular is no | | | | recent H1N1 scare could make a dent on the tourists' |
| exception to this, experts see this as an opportunity in | | | | visiting the country. These health scares will have its |
| crisis. The key lies in identifying the problems, fixing | | | | impact on the domestic tourism scenario as well. The |
| them and this is just the right time to do it! However, it | | | | health ministry will have to roll out promising measures |
| will take a concerted effort by India, the winner of | | | | and work with the public in creating a safer, healthier |
| three awards of the United Nations World Tourism | | | | atmosphere for all tourists visiting India. |
| Organization including Asia's favourite tourist destination | | | | 2. Infrastructure woes |
| in 2007, to see through this turmoil. All this makes the | | | | Presently, the thrust remains on the construction, |
| World Tourism Day on September 27 this year even | | | | maintenance, and development of roads, rails and |
| more challenging and exciting like never before! | | | | airways that connect the various tourist destinations in |
| This is the time to clean up the system | | | | the country. For this the Ministry of Tourism has to |
| Globally, the tourism ministries in many countries and in | | | | coordinate with the ministry of road transport and |
| India are gearing up to do well out of this world | | | | highways, the civil aviation and the railway ministry. The |
| economic calamity. These efforts assume significance | | | | source of funds for these all-important development |
| as the global travel and tourism industry is one of the | | | | activities could also come from the various IPOs. |
| world's largest industries, employing nearly 231 million | | | | However, this could happen only when the present rule |
| people and generating over 10.4 per cent of world | | | | of not allowing banks in India to accept deposits |
| GDP. And according to the Ministry of Tourism in India, | | | | beyond 10 years is relaxed. The finance for |
| in 2007, 5 million tourists visited India and spent nearly | | | | infrastructure is a long term plan and runs for 15-20 |
| $11.5 billion. The World Tourism Organisation 2020 vision | | | | years. Hence only if banks are allowed to have |
| estimates that around 5.08 million tourists will visit India | | | | long-term funds, this mismatch could be removed. |
| by 2010 which is likely to touch 8.9 million by 2020. India | | | | 3. Development of world class hotels |
| and China have so far been resilient during recession | | | | Accommodation continues to be the central plank of |
| and the recent World Bank report has not only | | | | the development strategy of tourism in India. This is an |
| endorsed this but predicts a decent growth for the | | | | area where the Government will have to spruce up its |
| two Asian giants. Thus, as far as the tourism industry | | | | coordination with not only the states and union |
| is concerned, India is well poised to cash in on the | | | | territories but also with private players. Tourists from |
| global recession only if it makes up its mind to roll up its | | | | foreign countries not only will expect safety and world |
| sleeves and work around a host of domestic and | | | | class facilities in the hotels they stay but also close |
| international tourism related issues. | | | | proximity to the tourists' hotspots. Hence, there is an |
| The international and domestic issues that affects | | | | increasing need to identify, set up and maintain world |
| tourism in India | | | | class accommodation facilities near the heritage sites, |
| A weaker American and European economies that | | | | and other tourists' destinations in the country. |
| are already stung by recession has a spiralling effect | | | | On the food front, though it is a fact that tourists' |
| on the global corporate world which is on a | | | | visiting India loves the spicy Indian food, the lack of |
| cost-cutting spree. This means lesser business and | | | | stringent food laws and restrictions, however, remains |
| personal travels to India. The country is also facing | | | | an issue. In addition to the variety, there has to be |
| newer challenges in health scares like the Swine flu, | | | | quality and safety too in the food offered. |
| racism scandals, and poor protection for foreigners in | | | | Research, plan, and perform! |
| certain tourists' locations, climatic changes, inadequate | | | | Tourism is not just about visiting a country. A tourist |
| manpower and the monsoon failures. Estimates have | | | | may visit a country for various reasons. For example, |
| put that India would need at least 200,000 people to | | | | many tourists from different parts of the world see |
| cater to the country's growing tourism needs. Then | | | | India as a hub of medical tourism. So is the adventure |
| there are the proverbial infrastructure problems like | | | | tourism sector which offers mountaineering, skiing, ice |
| poor road connectivity, non-modernisation of airports, | | | | skating, paragliding, and rock climbing opportunities in |
| lack of world class food and accommodation facilities | | | | some of the country's finest landscapes, seas and ice |
| in hot tourism spots and the sluggish pace in identifying | | | | capped mountains. Further cruise tourism which is very |
| and developing tourist destinations and circuits. All | | | | popular in the Caribbean, Latin America and some |
| these could have far-reaching impacts on the tourism | | | | South-east Asian countries is gaining foothold in India's |
| industry in India. | | | | vast coastlines and unexplored jungles and |
| Internally, India's domestic tourism industry is on a boom. | | | | destinations. Rural tourism, eco-tourism are also good |
| Literally a money spinner, the domestic tourism industry | | | | potentials for India's tourism sector. It is high time the |
| too faces similar issues and these will have to be | | | | Ministry of Tourism focuses more on eco-tourism as it |
| sorted out simultaneously. Hence, it will take | | | | will serve as an educative tool for domestic and |
| collaborative and focused efforts on the part of the | | | | foreign tourists in observing wildlife, learning about the |
| Indian tourism ministry and other related ministries to | | | | environment and understanding and conservation of |
| tackle these issues and set up new standards. | | | | the environment. Hence, understanding and solving |
| Tackling the issues | | | | these issues becomes all the more important. For this, |
| Tourism is multi sectoral. It has to coordinate and work | | | | the country needs well chalked out plans, funds from |
| with other industries and ministries to remove | | | | different sources, adequate manpower, and updated |
| bottlenecks in infrastructure, travel, health, food and | | | | technology, round the clock concerted coordination |
| accommodation and other facilities. The key is to offer | | | | between the various ministries and private players and |
| a world class experience for tourists visiting India. | | | | above all the urge to make India the most favoured |
| 1. Creating a healthy environment, literally | | | | tourist destination in the country. |
| On one hand, the medical tourism industry is on a roll. | | | | |