Sansad TV: Promoting Tourism | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

• Tourism is an important contributor to India's economy, and its growth is crucial for creating employment opportunities and driving economic expansion. Despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, India saw an increase in the number of foreign tourists in 2022. To promote sustainable and responsible growth in tourism, the Ministry of Tourism has drafted a National Tourism Policy that seeks to enhance the enabling conditions for tourism development and support the tourism industry.
• India is currently observing "Visit India Year 2023" as a mission to promote tourism and position India as a leading tourism destination globally. In addition, the Ministry of Tourism is organizing the 1st Global Tourism Investors' Summit in May 2023, which will showcase potential investment opportunities in India's tourism and hospitality sector to domestic and international investors.

Measures needed: Tourist Police Scheme

• Over the past three years, 29 foreigners have been murdered in India, while 14 were raped in 2021, 16 in 2020, and 12 in 2019. In addition to these crimes, there were 15 cases of assault and 14 complaints of cheating against foreign women in India last year.
• To improve the safety of tourists, the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has released a booklet detailing the establishment of tourist police stations, including information on recruitment, training, and logistics requirements. The deployment of tourist police is recommended at 25 popular tourist spots in India, and police personnel who join on deputation are eligible for a 30% deputation allowance. 
• The surveillance of known criminals in and around tourist areas is also recommended, and fast-track courts should be established to try cases of crimes against tourists. Six states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Rajasthan, and Kerala, currently have tourist police departments. Delhi is gearing up its tourist police wing in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit, and other states are also focusing on tourist safety in anticipation of a large influx of foreigners.

 Benefits of Tourism in India

• Tourism in India is a significant contributor to income and employment generation, poverty reduction, and sustainable human development. It plays a major role in the country's economy, accounting for 6.23% of the national GDP and 8.78% of total employment. The industry has provided jobs to almost 20 million people.
• Tourism also serves as a vital source of foreign exchange earnings for India, resulting in a positive impact on the country's balance of payments. In 2008, the tourism industry generated around US$100 billion and is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018, growing at a 9.4% annual rate. The sector has the potential to create micro-entrepreneurs, leading to further employment opportunities and a high multiplier effect.
• Moreover, tourism can help develop rural areas that are popular tourist destinations, providing better facilities and increasing the standard of living of the locals. The industry can also put local culture and handicrafts in the spotlight, thereby contributing to poverty reduction.
• India's rich cultural and traditional diversity reflects in its tourism industry. The country has a potpourri of different cultures, traditions, festivals, and places of interest, making it a popular destination for tourists worldwide. According to the World Tourism Organization, tourism contributes 10% to the world's GDP, 7% to global trade, and creates one in every 11 jobs worldwide.
• The travel and tourism sector in India has the potential to grow faster and create more employment opportunities, with projections estimating support for 46 million jobs by 2025. To achieve this, the right investments and policies need to be implemented to sustain the industry's growth.

Conclusion

• To achieve the target of attracting 13.34 million foreign tourists by 2024, it is essential to enhance the security measures, especially to ensure the safety of foreign tourists. Providing a safe environment is critical to attract a large number of tourists.
• If India aims to establish itself as a premier global tourism destination by 2047, it is necessary to bring together various initiatives of different ministries for better coordination and effectiveness.