India expects tourist arrivals to rebound in 2010

London: The Indian government expects tourism to rebound next year, with the Commonwealth Games luring visitors in October.

The country saw a seven per cent decline in international arrivals in 2009.

International arrivals to India — a land of diverse cultures, religions and civilisations — last year increased 5.6 per cent to 5.37 million, a 14.4 per cent increase in foreign exchange earnings to Rs507.3 billion (Dh40.5 billion).

International arrivals declined seven per cent between January and October this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

However, foreign exchange earnings grew 4.1 per cent in the same period, reflecting a shift in spending patterns.

Domestic tourist visits increased from 309 million in 2003 to 563 million in 2008. The industry employs 50 million people — directly and indirectly — across the country. Tourism sector employment represents nine per cent of the country's employment.

The industry contributes about six per cent to India's GDP.

India's domestic tourism sector is inching closer to the market size of international tourism arrivals — 600 million this year.

"The government has undertaken a number of initiatives including issuing a new tourism policy guideline that, together with the upcoming events, will help our industry to rebound," Indian Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said on Tuesday.

"On a month-to-month basis, the decline in international arrivals has been arrested to a large extent, from -17 per cent in January 2009 to -0.9 per cent in October, when compared to the corresponding months of 2008. By early next year, we expect the industry to start growing."

The government has identified 29 mega tourism destinations and centres that it wants to promote, she said.

New policy

Her government has issued a new tourism policy guideline that has identified a few niche products, including Rural Tourism — a new concept. Tourists will be able to stay in villages and mix with Indian villagers to get accustomed to the cultures.

"We have identified 150 sites where tourists will be treated with our warm hospitality," she said.

"Apart from that, we are also launching a Helipad Tourism scheme, which will carry tourists to the remotest areas where surface transport means are not available, especially in hill stations and mountain areas where tourists could be flown in for sightseeing and trekking."

She said her government is racing against time to add 30,000 rooms for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.