Constructed in different parts of India some more youth hostels are coming up in the north-eastern region. In order to consider and recommend measures necessary for the promotion of tourist traffic to India from other countries and from one part of the country to another, a Tourism Advisory Board has been constituted. The Board reviews the tourist trends and suggests appropriate measures.
In October 1966, a public sector enterprise called India Tourism Development Corporation (1TDC) was set up for the progressive development of tourist infrastructure. It operates India’s largest accommodation chain-the Ashok Group-comprising several hotels spread throughout India. In January, 1983, the Government set up the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management. This Institute organises seminars, workshops on Hotel Management, restaurant management, tourism planning, etc.
As a matter of fact, India has not given the tourism industry the attention it deserves. In order to promote tourism we should look after the tourists well and make their stay in our country comfortable. To attract the foreign tourists, the custom clearance procedures at our airports should be simplified. Inordinate delays at the airports tax the patience of foreign tourists.
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Top 10 destination States for foreign tourists in 2003 were Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, UP, West Bengal, Delhi, Rajasthan, AP, Goa, Kerala and Karnataka. In 2004, about 550 million domestic tourists visited various tourist locations compared to 236 m in 2001. In 2004, 6.2 million Indians visited abroad as tourists. India’s share in the world tourism is 0.44% in 2004 compared to 0.37% in 2001. Tourism has very high job generation potential, estimated direct and indirect employment during 2003-2004 is 20.45 million direct and 27.81 million indirect employments.
Tourism is presently the third largest foreign exchange earning sector in India. Proper growth of this industry can augment the availability of foreign balanced development of a number of regions in the country. The approach to tourism in the Ninth Plan has been to concentrate on development of selected centres and circuits through effective co-ordination of public and private efforts So as to achieve synergy in the development of this sector.
The state will have to focus on development of basic infrastructure such as transport facilities and civic amenities, and to play a facilitating role in the provision of accommodation and other facilities for all classes of tourists, both domestic and international. Attention will also have to be paid to the development of manpower and to the conservation of sites and preservation of the environment.