- India’s tourism sector witnessed a growth of 4·5 per cent in terms of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) with 8·2 million arrivals in 2015, and a growth of 4·1 per cent in foreign exchange earnings (FEEs) of US$ 21·1 billion.
- During 2016, 88·90 lakh foreign tourist visited India. This number is 10·27% more than that of 2015 figure.
- During 2016, foreign exchange earning stood at $ 23·146 billion while in 2015 it was $ 21·071 billion. Thus during 2016, 9·9% growth in foreign exchange earning is registered.
- To revive international tourist arrivals in the country after Mumbai terror attacks, India has launched a new tourism promotion campaign to attract foreign visitors.
- For the development of Indian Tourism, Tourism Development Corporation was established in the Public Sector on 1st October, 1966.
- The 12th plan (2012–17) document highlights the need to adopt ‘pro-poor tourism’ for increasing net benefits to the poor and ensuring that tourism growth contributes to poverty reduction.
- The scheme of ‘Visa-on Arrival (VoA)’ had been introduced for five countries w.e.f. January 2010 which again extended to six more countries in January 2011 and further to 29 countries. Thus, it is now available to the visitors from 40 countries.
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ETA : A New Mantra to Boost Tourism in India |
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The Government of India is in a move to grant in principle approval for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travellers from 180 countries to India will boost tourism in the country, Tourism Secretary Parvez Dewan said on April 8, 2014. Travelling to India will be made easy once the ETA to visit the country becomes operational. ETA, which will allow foreign travellers to apply for a visa from home and receive an online confirmation in five working days, is expected to become operational by October 2014. Barring eight prior reference countries, which include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, government has decided to give e-visa to all the 180 countries. India had con-siderably relaxed its visa regime and expanded the Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) scheme. India launched the VoA scheme in January 2010 for citizens of five countries—Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singa-pore— visiting India for tourism purposes. The scheme was later extended to six more countries in January 2011. |
- Tourism contributes about 6% in country’s GDP.
- On lines of ‘Palace on Wheels’ and Oriental Express, Railway Budget 2004-05 proposed to start ‘Village on Wheels’ for poor people.
- Tourism Department classifies hotels under Star System in six categories which are from I to V Star Hotels and Heritage Hotels.
- A new classified category has been started for the hotels which have been working since prior to 1950 in the old palaces, forts and mansions.
- The double-digit growth in both number of foreign tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings there from continued for the third consecutive year in 2005-06.
- Indian Tourism Financial Corporation has been set up to provide finances for the development of services and facilities relating to tourism.
- Central Government has a scheme named ‘Golden Triangle’ under consideration to encourage tourism at Chennai, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram on the lines of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
- Deccan Odyssey is a luxury train which travels through Maharashtra and Goa in its journey.
- Fisheries sector in India has been one of the major contributors of foreign exchange earnings through exports.
- Seven new tourist circuits are being developed across the India to facilitate travel to and stay at religious places. These circuits will be Sufi, Buddhist & Jain, Christian, Sikh, Hinduism and Sarva Dharma circuits.
- Sufi Circuit will include Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikari, Bijapur, Shirdi, Aurangabad, and the Awadh region, besides the dargahs in J&K, Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
- The Christian Circuit will have the churches of Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- The Sarva Dharma Circuit, to promote national integration, will be aligned along Tirupathi–Chennai – Velankanni – Nagoor and Vaishnodevi – Golden Temple–Sacred Heart Church (Delhi)–Nizamuddin.
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