The tourism industry of India is economically important and grows
rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated
that tourism generated INR6.4 trillion or 6.6% of the nation's GDP in 2012. It
supported 39.5 million jobs, 7.7% of its total employment. The sector is
predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.9% from 2013 to 2023.[1] This
gives India the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism
industries over the next decade.[2] India
has a large medical tourism sector which is expected to grow
at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about ₹ 95 billion by
2015.
According to provisional statistics 6.29 million foreign tourists
arrived in India in 2011, an increase of 8.9% from 5.78 million in 2010.
This ranks India as the 38th country in the world in terms of foreign tourist
arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million
in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011.[3]The
most represented countries are the United States (16%) and the United Kingdom
(12.6%). In 2011 Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi were the most popular states for foreign
tourists. Domestic tourists visited the states Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu most frequently.[4] Chennai,
Delhi,
Mumbai
and Agra
have been the four most visited cities of India by foreign tourists during the
year 2011. Worldwide, Chennai is ranked 41 by the number of foreign
tourists, while Delhi is ranked at 50, Mumbai at 57 and Agra at 65 and Kolkata at 99.[5]
The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 ranks India 65th
out of 144 countries overall. The report ranks the price competitiveness of
India's tourism sector 20th out of 144 countries. It mentions that India has
quite good air transport (ranked 39th), particularly given the country’s stage
of development, and reasonable ground transport infrastructure (ranked 42nd).
Some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped
however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international
comparison and low ATM penetration.[6]As per
the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, December 2013,
India’s rank in the World Tourism Receipts during 2012 was 16th and rank in
international tourist arrivals was 41. The rank of India was 7th among Asia
and the Pacific Region in terms of tourism receipts during 2012.
[7]
The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for
the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults
and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various Central
Ministries/agencies, state governments, Union Territories and the
representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to
promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[8] The
Ministry also maintains the Incredible India campaign.
India's rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its
international tourism appeal large and diverse. It presents heritage and
cultural tourism along with medical, business, educational and sports
tourism.
rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated
that tourism generated INR6.4 trillion or 6.6% of the nation's GDP in 2012. It
supported 39.5 million jobs, 7.7% of its total employment. The sector is
predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.9% from 2013 to 2023.[1] This
gives India the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism
industries over the next decade.[2] India
has a large medical tourism sector which is expected to grow
at an estimated rate of 30% annually to reach about ₹ 95 billion by
2015.
According to provisional statistics 6.29 million foreign tourists
arrived in India in 2011, an increase of 8.9% from 5.78 million in 2010.
This ranks India as the 38th country in the world in terms of foreign tourist
arrivals. Domestic tourist visits to all states and Union Territories numbered 1,036.35 million
in 2012, an increase of 16.5% from 2011.[3]The
most represented countries are the United States (16%) and the United Kingdom
(12.6%). In 2011 Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi were the most popular states for foreign
tourists. Domestic tourists visited the states Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu most frequently.[4] Chennai,
Delhi,
Mumbai
and Agra
have been the four most visited cities of India by foreign tourists during the
year 2011. Worldwide, Chennai is ranked 41 by the number of foreign
tourists, while Delhi is ranked at 50, Mumbai at 57 and Agra at 65 and Kolkata at 99.[5]
The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013 ranks India 65th
out of 144 countries overall. The report ranks the price competitiveness of
India's tourism sector 20th out of 144 countries. It mentions that India has
quite good air transport (ranked 39th), particularly given the country’s stage
of development, and reasonable ground transport infrastructure (ranked 42nd).
Some other aspects of its tourism infrastructure remain somewhat underdeveloped
however. The nation has very few hotel rooms per capita by international
comparison and low ATM penetration.[6]As per
the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, December 2013,
India’s rank in the World Tourism Receipts during 2012 was 16th and rank in
international tourist arrivals was 41. The rank of India was 7th among Asia
and the Pacific Region in terms of tourism receipts during 2012.
[7]
The Ministry of Tourism designs national policies for
the development and promotion of tourism. In the process, the Ministry consults
and collaborates with other stakeholders in the sector including various Central
Ministries/agencies, state governments, Union Territories and the
representatives of the private sector. Concerted efforts are being made to
promote new forms of tourism such as rural, cruise, medical and eco-tourism.[8] The
Ministry also maintains the Incredible India campaign.
India's rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its
international tourism appeal large and diverse. It presents heritage and
cultural tourism along with medical, business, educational and sports
tourism.