AUTHOR: JEMI SHIPHRA. I, SASTRA DEEMED UNIVERSITY, THANJAVUR.

India is home to a vast land of beauty, nature, architecture, and culture. With so many resources and heritage, India has always been open to tourism. So, what does India gain from tourism? Let us find out.

Did you know that tourism contributes to 4.6% of India’s GDP? Yes, with the vast land of nature and beauty, culture and heritage, India is a major attraction for tourists from all around the world. The Ministry of Tourism has focused on developing proper infrastructure and improving the standards of the hospitality sector to promote tourism in India all around the world.

Tourism is a huge contributor to our economy through the growth of both domestic and international tourism. The rich culture and the historical sites attract visitors. Also, there are 42 World Heritage sites in India that are recognised by UNESCO. 

INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS:

International tourists are a huge source of income and improves the market value of the tourist spots in India. It also promotes “Foreign exchange earnings” which generates more foreign exchange earnings to India and adds value to our country.

GDP GROWTH:

The tourism industry helps the GDP of India to grow which benefits through the transportation and hospitality sectors.

TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS:

Various technological advancements have been introduced to provide easier access to different tourist attractions across India and allow better communication between tourists and the locals.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION:

The government of India ensures that tourism is being promoted constantly and develops the infrastructure that is required for it through the Ministry of Tourism.

EMPLOYMENT:

Tourism opens the door to more employment. It provides opportunities to various sectors in promoting tourism. With increase in tourism, more employment opportunities are laid out for people from all walks of life.

INCREASE IN DOMESTIC TOURISM:

By promoting various tourist spots to the locals helps in increasing the rate of domestic tourism. This helps in better circulation of money within the country.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

Improving the tourism related infrastructure like better transportation facilities, food and accommodation which will attract more visitors and will also be well known among the locals.

PROMOTE AND PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE:

All the historical and heritage get recognition, and tourism promotes the authenticity of these sites. It also facilitates cultural exchange between various cultures. 

LOCAL BUSINESSES:

Tourism helps the small local businesses to flourish and adds profit to the economy.

There is a wide variety of aspects that attracts tourists to India to spend their time here and to invest in the country. Few of them are:

NATURAL LANDSCAPES:

India being a tropical country has every season in it and every state has its own beautiful natural landscapes that provide a very aesthetic backdrop which attracts tourists from everywhere.

CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES:

There are various cultural sites like monuments, ancient architectures and UNESCO recognised heritage sites which explains the rich history and culture of India to the visitors.

RELIGIOUS SITES:

There are a lot of religious sites like temples, mosques, churches, and other religious sites which are visited by devotees and others from all around the world.

HISTORICAL SITES:

Historical sites like palaces, monuments, and ancient architecture attract visitors for various purposes.

Tourism attracts lots of visitors which brings a shift in the environmental condition of the tourist sites. Here are a few issues that impact the environment through tourism:

DEGRADATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT:

Increased tourism leads to over-crowding in some places which leads to air, water, and other pollution which disturbs the ecological balance.

IMPROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT:

At times tourism can generate an overwhelming amount of waste which becomes very hard for the local waste management systems to manage, and this leads to pollution.

RESOURCE DEPLETION:

With heavy tourist activities many resources like electricity and water go under high demand which partially restricts the access of such resources to the locals.

Tourism is a very important element in the Indian economic system by contributing to the GDP of the country, promoting employment, and increasing foreign exchange. Besides this, it also promotes the cultural, historical, natural heritage and history of our country to the rest of the world. The tourism sector helps develop various technologies and infrastructure of the country. It also gives India a unique identity that expresses India in a positive aspect and helps India to establish its spot in the international spotlight.