Tourism with its wide range of constituent sub sectors is now world's largest industry.
The dramatic growth of tourism over the last twenty five years is one of the most
remarkable economic and social phenomena of the period.
Tourism activity has long lasting socio-economic impacts on the host economy and
community. The employment impact of tourism goes beyond employment in sectors in which
tourists directly spend their money, such as hotels, restaurants and airlines. The
establishments which receive tourists also buy goods and services from other sectors that
generate employment in those sectors through multiplier effect.
In India, there has been 220.1 million domestic tourist visits in the year 2000 that
increased to 234.8 million in the year 2001 and 273.3 million in 2002. In the year 2003,
2.75 million tourists visited the country.
Conservative estimates of tourism related employment (base year 2002) by our professionals
reveal that tourism generates about 7.5 million full time job equivalents in India. It
translates to about 11 million actual jobs.
Our professionals discussed with various stakeholders in the local tourism markets. Such
discussions brought out various constraints faced by tourism industry at various tourist
destinations in the country. Major constraints are poor quality of infrastructure,
malpractices by operators, manpower not being qualified resulting in poor quality of
service, absence of a diversified value bundle as a product offer to the tourists, proper
marketing and promotion, air connectivity and concerns related with carrying capacity and
environment.
The emerged picture of tourism potential and related employment coupled with the
identification of gaps in planning, provision, positioning and marketing of tourism point
towards the requisite interventions at macro as well as micro level. Macro interventions
are related with macro economic policy framework in which tourism industry operates in the
country. On the other hand, micro interventions are related with spatial planning,
efficient provision and marketing of tourist destinations.
Above observations coupled with timely and efficient implementation of programs and plans
outlined in the tourism policies of respective States can catalyze the growth of tourism
industry in the country resulting in creation of more tourism related jobs.
Besides above, some additional measures are required to improve the air and surface
connectivity of all these destinations. Further, the issues related with environment and
fragility of eco-systems needs special attention.
Special attention is also required for increasing the employment of women in the tourism
industry. Employers should set up programs and schemes encouraging women to move into
non-traditional occupations, invest in women's training, appoint them in managerial
positions, and re-appoint them after years of diminished involvement due to family
responsibilities.
To sum up, Indian tourism has vast potential for generating employment and earning large
sums of foreign exchange besides giving a fillip to the country's overall economic and
social development. Much has been achieved by way of increasing air seat capacity,
increasing trains and railway connectivity to important tourist destinations, four-laning
of roads connecting important tourist centers and increasing availability of accommodation
by adding heritage hotels to the hotel industry and encouraging paying guest
accommodations. But much more remains to be done. Since tourism is a multi-dimensional
activity, and basically a service industry, it would be necessary that all wings of the
Central and State governments, private sector and voluntary organizations become active
partners in the endeavor to attain sustainable growth in tourism if India is to become a
world player in the tourist industry.
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