Indian
tourism touched new heights in 2005 with the growth of about 13.5% in arrivals
and about 20% in foreign exchange earnings. During the first 11 months of the year, 3.35
million tourists visited the country while the number during the corresponding
period of last year was 2.59 million.
Similarly, foreign exchange earnings through these arrivals during
Jan.-Nov., 2005 was Rs. 22,958 crore against Rs. 17,039 crore during the
corresponding period of last year.
Going by the average of 5 per cent global tourism growth, India has
emerged as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations. The launching of several innovative schemes
like ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, ‘Priyadarshini’ and ‘Rural Tourism’ has enabled India
to emerge as one of the hottest destinations in the world.
India has been ranked 5th
among the world’s tourists’ hot spots and also the fastest growing tourism,
8.8% annually by World Travel and Tourism Council. WTTC also projected India as one of the, emerging tourism markets
having potential of $ 24 billion annual foreign exchange earnings through
tourism by 2015.
ATITHI DEVO BHAVA
The
year started with the launching of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ on January 19th,
a social awareness campaign aimed at providing the inbound tourists the sense of being welcomed by, and to the
country. The components of the campaign
are orientation and training to taxi drivers, guides, immigration officers,
tourist police and other personnel directly interacting with the tourists. Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Agra
and Augrangabad were covered in first phase.
26,000 service providers were given training in these cities. After successful completion of first phase,
second phase of the campaign launched in November, 2005 with the target of training
and sensitizing 75,000 personnel by the end of next year under the
campaign.
BIMSTEC MEET
In
February, 2005, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan met
under the chairmanship of India at Kolkatta to explore intra-region tourism
opportunities. The meeting decided to
adopt joint marketing of the region and more interaction among the
countries. The deliberations provided
fresh impetus for the development of tourism infrastructure in the region. Tour operators from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
were taken on familiarization trip to North East during the conference to
promote intra-regional tourism.
In January, 2005 India was also
asked to chair the meeting of Executive Council of World Tourism Council at
Thailand to draw rehabilitation plan for Tsunami affected countries. It was recognition to emerging profile of
Indian Tourism.
TOURISM MINISTERS MEET
State
Tourism Ministers met on 4-5 March in New Delhi to consider rationalization of
taxes levied by the States in tourism sector and measures to promote budget
accommodation. The meeting chaired by
the Tourism Ministry also decided time bound programme to make all tourist
sites ‘Plastic Free’ and area around tourism spots ‘Free From Vehicular
Traffic’. Launching of employment
generation scheme through tourism, development of quality men power, single
window clearance system were some of the significant decisions taken during the
meet.
WTTC MEET
Against
the bids by several developed countries, India got prestigious global meet of
World Travel and tourism Council. More
than 500 delegates including Government’s representatives, major hotel chains,
airlines and tourism and travel industry attended the meet held during 8-10
April, 2005 in New Delhi. The meeting
provided the good opportunity to project various aspects of Indian tourism
before the captains of world tourism industry.
CRUISE TOURISM
In
order to promote India as ideal destination for cruise tourism, initiatives
were taken to formulize the policy to look into issues like immigration,
customs, quarantine restrictions, identification of ports, infrastructural
facilities, connectivity, taxation issues in this regard. A high power steering group constituted in
April to give a shape cruise shipping policy.
Foreign cruise liners were briefed about opportunities available in
India.
Tourism got further boost with the
launching operation by one of the leading cruise liners of the world in
Indian Waters in October. The
cruise liner started its operation on Mumbai-Goa-Lakshydweep route.
MEDICAL TOURISM
One
of the remarkable initiatives of the year was medical tourism. The potential of Medical Tourism which can
bring additional ten thousand crore foreign exchange annually, was never
considered in the past. The Ministry of
Tourism along with the Ministry of Family Welfare set up task force to chalk
out strategy in this regard.
Sub-committees were constituted to sort out issues of accreditation of
hospitals, standardization of services and marketing. The work of price-bending of hospitals
to ensure uniform and reasonable prices for particular treatment and accreditation
for maintaining required international standards have been completed. The Ministry of Tourism has also prepared
promotional CDs, brochures and other material for launching campaign in
overseas markets in January next year.
A
new category of visa, M-visa providing long stay to medical tourist and
his or her companion also started this year.
RURAL TOURISM
Recognizing
the important role tourism can play as a catalyst for development in rural
areas, a Rural Tourism scheme was launched this year. The objective is not only to showcase art, craft and heritage but
also to ensure that benefits of the tourism reach to rural areas. In consultation with the State Governments, 63
rural sites were identified and Rs. 50 lakh sanctioned for the each during
the year. Improvement of surroundings
of the village, landscaping of the destination, upgradation of roads within the
Panchayat limits, cleaning of ponds and water bodies and upkeep of local
monuments and museums are being taken up under the scheme. To ensure the speedy implementation of
projects, funds are released directly to the implementing agency. One of the specialty of the scheme is that
at each step of implemention, participation of NGO and local youth is
ensured.
Gurukuls have been set up at five
destinations - Pochampalli(Andhra Pradesh), Raghurajpur(Orissa),
Hodka(Hujarat), Pranpur(Madhya Pradesh) and Aranmula(Kerala) to provide unique
experience to visitors. During short
stay at villages tourists can also learn art, music and other forms of our
heritage from the master artists. An
exclusive website on rural destinations – www.exploreruralindia.org was
launched in October this year.
PROJECT ‘PRIYADARSHINI’
‘Priyadarshini’
is an endeavour to bring in women in greater numbers in the core area of
Tourism at all levels. Through the
project, launched on December 9th, women will be trained to drive
tourist taxis. They will also be
provided training for self-defense, vehicle repairing and knowledge of other
related domain. The trained women will
be able to work as a cab driver, tourist guide as well as be the face of
‘Incredible India’. The objective is
to make tourist, especially women, tourist more comfortable.
Under the scheme the Ministry
would also facilitate women entrepreneur to set up art-cum-souvenir shops,
small cafeteria and facilitation kiosks at tourist places. The scheme will be launched in Mumbai and
Hyderabad next year.
TOURISM ROAD SHOWS
In order to project various
aspects of Indian Tourism, the Ministry organized ‘Tourism Road Shows’ in
Seoul, Tokyo and Osaka from 11th –16th October,
2005. Similar shows were organized in
Milan, Paris, Serbia and other key source markets of Europe. These road shows
were attended by a large number of tour operators and travel writers. Second phase of ‘Incredible India’ campaign
continued till March 2005 was supported by some of the innovative schemes like
‘Let us go to India’ a TV campaign in Japan.
‘Walk with Buddha’ in Thailand and China, etc. A taxi in London and tram in Berlin with ‘Incredible India’
colours became very popular. IT base
marketing and dissemination of information created keen awareness among the
perspective tourists about India as a hot destination.
NIGHT BAZAARS
This
year the Ministry of Tourism evolved a concept of Night Bazaars to provide a
unique shopping experience and healthy cultural entertainment to the tourists
which generally land up in odd hours or have short stay during transit or are
busy with their business appointments during the day. These bazaars will showcase Indian theatre, poetry and handicrafts
and preserve the traditional art and cultural forms of the country. First such
night Bazaar was held at Chankaya Puri, New Delhi in April-May, 05. Another night bazaar is expected to be
launched soon at Hyderababad.
REVIVAL OF JAMMU & KASHMIR
Year
2005 saw the revival of J & K tourism in a big way. Domestic tourists flow to Kashmir valley
during first six months of this year recorded a growth of about 83%. Foreign tourist arrivals also increased
significantly. The Ministry of Tourism
sanctioned 3.0 crore rupees for the development of six villages as tourist
destinations which include Drung, Surinsar, Gagangir, Sonamarg, Pahalgam and
Jheri. Three tourism development
authorities in valley area to Jammu were provided 2 crore rupees each for the
current financial year for the development of tourism infrastructure. A new tourist circuit, Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch
sanctioned Rs. 688 lakhs.
Familiarization tours for leading tour operators/travel agents from Britain,
USA and Italy organized to publicised destinations of J & K.
TOURISM PROJECTS
During
the year, Ministry of Tourism started Integrated Development of Tourism
Projects. More than Rs. 20,696.51 lakhs
were sanctioned till December 8th of this year to various States for
the projects. These include Beach
Tourism in Kerala, development of river front in lower Assam, Trekking circuit
in Sikkim. Development of Konda Gaon in
Bastar, development of Chenab river front at Akhnoor, J&K, Jog Falls in
Karnataka, creation of tourism work in Nagaland, development of hot spring in
North Sikkim, etc.
During the year 35 tourism
circuits were also taken up for creating facilities for tourists like wayside
amenities, tourists lodges, Yatri Niwas and refurburishment of monuments.
NEW SCHEME TO BRING IN PRIVATE
SECTOR IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
The
development of tourism infrastructure requires very large investment that may
not be possible out of budgetary resources alone. In order to bring in private sector resources as well as
techno-managerial efficiencies, the Ministry of Tourism launched a scheme
in December this year. Under the
scheme, grant-in-aid will be provided up to 50% of the equity contribution of
the promoter of the project subject to the limit of 25% of the total project
cost or Rs. 50 crores whichever is the less.
Projects like tourist trains, cruise vessels, cruise terminals,
convention centers, golf courses etc. would qualify for assistance.
NCJ/DT