InFocus | India
Forever exciting...Tourism possibilities in India are endless
The well-travelled Mark Twain recognised that "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only."
- India Tourism, UAE
- Published: 00:00 August 14, 2006
The well-travelled Mark Twain recognised that "India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and great grandmother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only."
His enthusiasm and admiration for one of the world's most diverse countries are still shared by millions of tourists the world over.
India, the world's largest democracy, has made stupendous progress among developing nations. One of the world's oldest civilisations, India's impressive variety of history and culture — from the ancient Gangetic kingdoms to the present state — harmoniously blend to form a unique atmosphere in over a million square kilometres of spectacular sights.
Placid backwaters and lagoons, bays and rough lava-rocked seas, marine estuaries filled with fish, crashing surf, powdery golden sand or palm-fringed shores — incredible India has them all.
India today has the world's second fastest growing economy. At the present rate, India's GDP will reach $1 trillion by 2011 and $3 trillion by 2020. "The Indian economy is on a buoyant note, public mood is on the upswing and an upbeat feeling prevails. Even nature seems to match steps in all its many-hued glory. There really wouldn't be a better time to plan your trip to this heady getaway,'' says A. S. Saxena, Assistant Director, India Tourism, Dubai.
Various initiatives are under way in the tourism sector with the sole objective of providing visitors to the country with a world-class experience that differentiates itself as a spiritually enhancing, culturally enriching, physically invigorating and mentally rejuvenating experience. Tourist arrivals to the country witnessed an increase of 26.8 per cent in 2004 and 13.2 per cent during 2005. Foreign exchange earnings during the same period increased by 35 per cent and 20.2 per cent respectively in dollar terms. Compared to the corresponding period in 2005, the first three months of the financial year 2006 have seen a further increase of 12.1 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals.
The country's infrastructural facilities are being augmented in a well-planned manner, in partnership with the states and the private sector.
A tourist's dream holiday lies in visiting a good product. With a view to providing better air connectivity, the country's aviation policy has been radically liberalised. The imbalance in demand and supply has been corrected. In addition, 12 airports are being developed as model airports within the next five years. The plan is to make these airports cater to 40 million international and 65 million domestic travellers by 2010.
To overcome the shortage in the accommodation sector, efforts are afoot to add 150,000 hotel rooms in the next four years.
Product diversification is also being given due consideration and importance. Medical Tourism, a new product that has been recently launched, is being promoted in key markets. The recent introduction of a medical visa will help in the growth of medical tourism.
Under this visa, a patient along with an attendant can come and stay in India for a period of one year, which can be further extended up to three years.
As 74 per cent of the people reside in villages, no tourism experience can be complete without a visit to the countryside in India. Hence, a rural tourism scheme has been launched with the objective to showcase rural life, art, culture and heritage in villages, which have core-competency in terms of craft, handloom, textiles etc.
Conference and convention tourism is another segment gaining increasing importance in the modern world. Recognising the emerging importance of meetings and conventions, the government of India has announced several schemes to increase the capacity of existing infrastructure and to construct world-class international convention centres through private-public partnership in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore.
Other new products on the anvil include golf tourism and cruise tourism. Film tourism is another product that has gained popularity through promotion of Indian locales among foreign filmmakers.
India is also a shoppers' paradise with traditional handicrafts from different regions and ultramodern shopping malls in cities across the country.
A recent initiative of the tourism ministry has been the Athithi Devo Bhava (guest is god) campaign — a drive aimed at creating social awareness at all levels about the importance and economic benefits of tourism.
The campaign's main components are training and orientation to taxi drivers, tourist guides, immigration officers, tourist police and other service providers in this industry.
Tourism being everybody's business, the ministry is committed to provide the visitor an unforgettable experience.
Ecotourism has been recognised as a priority tourism product for India, a region with the world's greatest biodiversity. The country's varied natural locales make it an ideal destination for ecotourism.
The goal is to develop India into a sustainable tourism destination. Wildlife tourism associated with India's world famous national parks and tiger reserves, Himalayan tourism, island tourism in the Andamans and Laccadives are some of the products in ecotourism sector.
The India tourism sector in its developmental phase is keeping pace with the fast-growing economy and will undoubtedly be a forerunner in the country's rapid all-round growth. The website www.incredibleindia.org is one of the key marketing initiatives to make this exotic destination literally a click away.
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