India can become number one in tourism: report

By Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI, AUG. 16. India has the potential to become the number one tourist destination in the world with the demand growing at 10.1 per cent per annum, the World Travel and Tourism Council(WTTC) has predicted.

What is required is prioritising tourism and investment in the sector. But the Government spending on tourism is 153rd in the world at 0.9 per cent. China spends 3.8 of its budget on tourism and rates fifth in receiving the largest tourist arrivals (31.2 million) after France, U.S., Spain and Italy. India gets only 2.6 million tourists on an average per annum.

The WTTC's Tourism Satellite Accounting Research (TSAR), which measured tourism's share in the national economy in 160 countries over the last 10 years, has found a global shift away from Europe to Asia and the Far East in the last 10 years.

The TSAR has been developed as a measure in terms of share in personal and business consumption, Government expenditure on tourism, capital investment, total demand for tourism and travel, share in GDP and employment generated, both in the industry as well as in the economy.

Speaking to The Hindu, the Secretary- General of the India chapter of WTTC, Mr. Yogesh Chandra, said the TSAR analysis was that the demand for travel and tourism had to be satisfied by matching supply. Failure to meet the demand would lead to overcrowding of existing facilities, shortage in basic infrastructure, environmental unbalance, driving away of foreign visitors and excessive outgo of domestic traffic.

The WTTC study showed that while outbound tourism had grown over last 10 years from 76 million to 179 (with the boom in the economy), the inbound traffic has remained almost static at 2.6 million arrivals.

The only way to counter the threat of outbound tourism was to develop and promote tourism within the country and to make India competitive internationally as a destination. The potential of tourism's contribution was more than realised. Given the breathtaking range of tourist products, tourism could become the largest industry in India, the report said.

The WTTC said that the infrastructure dictated by the domestic demand would also serve to attract foreign visitors. And to make India internationally attractive, changes were necessary in the visa regime, the aviation sector, taxation policies and marketing initiatives.

Business travel and tourism were also similarly poised to grow in the coming decade. But because business travel had unique features of higher spending, requirement of services, higher expectations, world class standards, telecommunications, efficient and convenient travel schedules, the public sector must assess this growth and plan its services and policies to serve the growing segment.

India's comparative advantage was its mystical attraction with its ancient civilisation and culture with a history going back to 5,000 years, the report said. India had much to offer by way of spiritual and mental rejuvenation.

Other attractions were the world's highest mountains, miles of coastline with excellent beaches, tropical forests and wildlife, desert safari, lagoon backwaters, ancient monuments, forts and palaces, adventure tourism and the Taj Mahal. The tropical forests in Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Kerala and Rajasthan could be developed into major tourist attractions.

Being located virtually midway between Europe and the Far East, Europe and South East Asia/Australia, India had a strategic advantage. Since all international flights have to, out of necessity fly over India, the country could develop one or two international airports with the best of transit facilities, inducing passengers to break journey and thereby facilitating visitor export.

The report suggested that the Indira Gandhi international airport, ``which today ranks amongst the worst in the world'', could be converted into a modern state-of-the-art airport with luxury lounges, visa on arrival, hotels and restaurants, extended shopping, sports and entertainment facilities and superfast corridors to Agra and Jaipur.

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