What is Tourism?

Tourism is a practice of travelling for recreational or leisure purposes. It has become a popular global leisure activity, involving short term and temporary movements of people. Tourism contributes to the source of income for countries, including transportation, accommodation and entertainment.

What is Hospitality?

Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, and involves welcoming, receiving, hosting or entertaining guests. The hospitality industry is closely linked with the travel and tourism industry and plays a major role in the overall economic growth of a country.

Types of Tourism

There are various types of tourism, including:

1. Adventure Tourism

Adventure tourism refers to travel and activities that are outside the typical tourist experience and involve a certain degree of physical or mental challenge. For example, mountain climbing, white-water rafting, skydiving, and bungee jumping.

2. Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism focuses on visiting and experiencing the history, heritage, art, and architecture of a place. For example, visiting museums, historical landmarks, and cultural festivals.

3. Medical Tourism

Medical tourism is when people travel to another country for medical treatment, procedures, or surgeries that are less expensive or not available in their home country. For example, going to India for dental work or Thailand for cosmetic surgery.

4. Sports Tourism

Sports tourism involves traveling to another location to participate in or watch a specific sporting event. For example, attending the Olympics or traveling to a different country to play golf.

5. Water Tourism

Water tourism refers to activities and travel centered around water-based activities and attractions, such as beach resorts, boating trips, and scuba diving. For example, visiting the Great Barrier Reef or going on a cruise.

6. Wildlife Tourism

Wildlife tourism involves traveling to observe and experience wildlife in their natural habitats. For example, going on a safari in Africa, visiting a wildlife sanctuary, or going whale watching.

7. Space Tourism

Space tourism refers to travel to outer space for recreational purposes. It is still in its infancy and is not yet commercially available, but companies such as Virgin Galactic are working to make it a reality in the near future.

Tourism in India

Tourism is the largest service industry sector in India, contributing 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of total employment in the country.

1. Increase in tourists: In recent years, the number of tourists visiting India has increased significantly. In 2019, the country saw a growth of 7.7% in the number of international tourists visiting the country. This has been attributed to the Indian government’s efforts to promote the country as a tourist destination, improved visa processes and ease of travel.
2. Diverse tourist destinations: India offers a vast array of tourist destinations to suit different interests and preferences. From historic monuments, temples, and palaces to natural wonders such as beaches, hills, and forests, India offers something for everyone. Popular tourist destinations include the Taj Mahal, the Golden Triangle, the beaches of Goa, and the backwaters of Kerala.
3. Cultural diversity: India is a country of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. Visitors to India can experience the rich cultural heritage of the country through its festivals, art, music, and food. The country is known for its vibrant colors, rich textiles, and intricate jewelry.
4. Growth in eco-tourism: In recent years, India has seen a growth in eco-tourism as visitors look for more sustainable and environmentally conscious travel options. India has many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that offer opportunities for eco-tourism and adventure activities such as trekking, camping, and wildlife watching.
5. Medical tourism: India is becoming a popular destination for medical tourism, offering world-class medical facilities at a fraction of the cost in other countries. Patients from around the world come to India for various treatments including cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, and eye care.
6. Challenges faced by the industry: Despite the growth of tourism in India, the industry faces several challenges including infrastructure, safety, and cleanliness. The country also needs to improve its marketing and promotion efforts to attract more tourists. Additionally, the Indian government needs to address the issue of over-tourism in certain destinations, to ensure the sustainability of the industry.

Domestic and International Tourism

Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism involves travel within the borders of a country for leisure, business or other purposes. Domestic tourists are usually residents of the country and their trips are usually short and focused on a particular destination. This type of tourism plays a crucial role in the economic growth and development of the country, as it generates revenue from various industries such as accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, and entertainment.

International Tourism

International tourism involves travel from one country to another for leisure, business or other purposes. International tourists are usually non-residents of the country and their trips usually involve extended stays in their destination. International tourism is a major source of revenue for many countries, as it provides employment and contributes to the local economy through the tourism industry. It also helps to foster cultural exchange and promotes understanding between people from different countries.

Significance of Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Tourism has significant effects on the world’s economy, environment, culture, and society. It can contribute to economic development by increasing the number of tourists, generating foreign currency, boosting foreign trade, promoting cultural integration, conserving the ecological balance, and global recognition.

Positive Economic Impacts

1. Job creation: The tourism and hospitality industry is one of the largest employers globally, providing a wide range of jobs, from unskilled positions to highly skilled positions.
2. Revenue generation: The industry generates significant revenue through tourism-related activities such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation services. This revenue can help support local communities, improve infrastructure and public services, and contribute to overall economic growth.
3. Foreign exchange earnings: Tourism is a major source of foreign exchange earnings, particularly in developing countries. This foreign exchange can be used to improve the standard of living, stimulate economic growth and create job opportunities.

Positive Social Impacts

1. Cultural exchange: Tourism can foster cultural exchange, promoting understanding and appreciation of different cultures, beliefs, and traditions.
2. Improved standard of living: Increased tourism can result in improved standard of living for local communities through improved infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
3. Promotion of peace and understanding: Tourism can play a role in promoting peace and understanding between different nations, by promoting cultural exchange and exchange of ideas.

Negative Impacts

1. Environmental degradation: Rapid tourism growth can result in environmental degradation, particularly in fragile ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests and coral reefs.
2. Overcrowding: Increased tourism can result in overcrowding in tourist destinations, putting a strain on local resources and infrastructure.
3. Exploitation of local communities: In some cases, tourism can result in the exploitation of local communities, such as in the case of unregulated mass tourism, where large numbers of tourists can put a strain on local resources, and lead to the displacement of local residents.

Measures to Promote Tourism in India

The Indian government has taken various measures to promote tourism in India, including:

1. Developing tourist-friendly infrastructure
2. Encouraging public-private partnerships
3. Providing tax incentives and subsidies
4. Promoting medical tourism
5. Promoting eco-tourism
6. Providing visa facilities to tourists

1. Developing tourist-friendly infrastructure

The Indian government is developing tourist-friendly infrastructure by constructing and upgrading facilities like airports, railway stations, roads, and tourist accommodations. This includes the creation of integrated tourist complexes, convention centers, and exhibition halls. The goal is to provide tourists with comfortable and convenient amenities during their stay.

2. Encouraging public-private partnerships

The government is partnering with private players to develop tourism infrastructure and create new tourist destinations. This helps to attract private investment, generate employment, and boost the local economy.

3. Providing tax incentives and subsidies

The Indian government provides various tax incentives and subsidies to the tourism industry to encourage investment and promote growth. This includes tax holidays, duty-free imports of capital goods, and subsidies for setting up new hotels and tourist facilities.

4. Promoting medical tourism

India has a well-established medical tourism industry, with a large number of private hospitals offering high-quality medical services at affordable prices. The government is promoting this sector by creating a favorable investment environment, providing infrastructure and logistical support, and streamlining the visa process for medical tourists.

5. Promoting eco-tourism

India is home to diverse and unique ecosystems, including tropical forests, deserts, and mountains. The government is promoting eco-tourism by creating new national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and developing ecotourism facilities and activities like trekking, camping, and wildlife viewing.

6. Providing visa facilities to tourists

The Indian government has made the visa process easier and more convenient for tourists. This includes e-visas, which allow tourists to apply for visas online and receive them quickly, as well as multiple-entry visas for regular visitors. The goal is to make it easier for tourists to visit India and experience its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism and Hospitality Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism and hospitality industry, causing a decline in the number of tourists and loss of revenue. The industry has faced various challenges, including:

1. Decline in the number of tourists
2. Loss of revenue
3. Reduction in the number of employees
4. Disruption in supply chains

The Indian government has implemented various measures to revive the tourism and hospitality industry, including:

1. Implementing safety protocols for tourists
2. Encouraging domestic tourism
3. Providing financial support to the industry
4. Promoting digitalization

Future of Tourism and Hospitality Industry in India

The future of the tourism and hospitality industry in India is positive, with the Indian government taking various measures to revive the industry. The industry is expected to grow in the future, with increasing domestic and international tourism, and the introduction of new tourist destinations. The industry is also expected to adopt new technologies, such as digitalization, to improve the tourist experience.