Date:14/08/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/08/14/stories/2004081400971700.htm

Back `Tourism sector must focus on middle-class to spur growth'

Our Bureau

Mangalore , Aug. 13

THE Indian middle class should be accorded utmost importance in the domestic tourism circuit. This will help boost the fortunes of the industry.

These opinions were expressed by speakers at the inauguration of two-day seminar on "Emerging trends in tourism sector", organised by Srinivas College of Hotel Management and All-India Council for Technical Education, in Mangalore on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman and Managing Director of Corporation Bank, Mr K. Cherian Varghese, said that the upwardly mobile middle class section of society should be provided with better facilities at reasonable cost. This will generate more revenue for the sector.

People today are prosperous and they want to spend on leisure. They are tired of visiting the same place and want to explore new areas. Tourism sector should take note of this aspect, he said.

Stating that tourism is not a new phenomenon, he said religious tourism is being practised for the past so many centuries. He regretted that tourism sector, which contributed around 10 per cent to the world's GDP, is contributing only 0.7 per cent to India's GDP. India should exploit the potential of this sector for its economic growth, he added.

Mr H.N. Satyanarayana Rao, Inspector General of Police, Western Range, who inaugurated the seminar, said that the tourism sector should respect the sentiments of the middle class. In India, middle class tourists form a major component in the tourism circuit

If a person in Haryana wants to explore the tourist destinations of Karnataka, he/she should be given adequate facilities. Infrastructure at the destination should be good.

Referring to the poor condition of roads leading to some of the tourist destinations, he said such things come in the way of attracting tourists.

Though information technology has helped in painting a rosy picture of various tourist destinations in the country, the ground realities are different.

Tourists are being exploited and misguided in many places. He said the growth of tourism depends on the quality of the service, and the tourism sector should think of training people in this regard.

Mr A. Raghavendra Rao, President of A. Shama Rao Foundation, presided over the inaugural function.