Case4-June-2017
With a consistently growing middle class and increasing disposable income, the tourism and hospitality sector is witnessing a healthy growth. It accounts for 7.5 per cent of the country’s GDP and was valued at approximately Rs. 986.2 thousand crores in 2015. It is expected to grow at 16.1 per cent Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to reach Rs. 2,796.9 thousand crores in 2022. The sector generates a significant amount of direct as well as indirect employment. It is also one of the key foreign exchange earners for the country. In 2015, the travel and tourism segment alone directly supported approximately 23.5 million jobs (5.5 per cent of total employment).
As the global tourism industry grows at an ever-faster pace, traditional vacation destinations become less important and oversaturated; more and more people are looking for exotic, unique and unspoiled destinations, offering pristine nature and a culturally rich experience. At the same time, however, this mass tourism is threatening exactly that through severe, negative impacts it has on the host community.
Tourism and Hospitality is a diverse industry being collection of activities comprising Transportation accommodation, eatery and drinking establishments,retail shops, entertainment business and other hospitality services provided to individuals or groups travelling away from home for leisure, business or other proposals.
The broad scope of economic activities involved in tourism enables wider participation in its growth, including the participation of the informal sector, because the skill requirement for most of the jobs are modest and can be relatively easily acquired. Further tourism is highly depended upon natural capital (e.g. Forest, wildlife) and culture. These are assets that some of the poor countries have even if they have no financial resources. Under the business and usual scenario, the tourism sector is forecasted to grow by 8.3% per annum between 2011-21. According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), between 2009-18 tourism in India has the highest 10-year growth potential in the world.
India being the fastest growing economy holds the distinction of having the largest pack of middle class families in a country. The growth in Indian economy is also expected to result in the growth of tourism industry. These young travelers are available with earning surpluses and were looking for exciting travel destinations not only in India and to other destinations in the world. Their preferences grow from domestic destinations to foreign as their economic status grows. Domestic Tourism is growing strongly in India and Tamil Nadu holds the number one destination of domestic tourism spot in the last three year.
The adoption Pro-Poor Tourism approach is aimed to increase the net benefit results in flow of tourist and benefit to the poor from tourism and related activities. Such benefit may be economical, social, environmental or cultural. These go well beyond simply promoting Community tourism, Heritage Tourism, Eco tourism,Wellness Tourism etc. There is need for diversity of actions from Macro to Micro level including product and infrastructure development, marketing, branding, Promotion, planning, policy and investment.
At present the share of world Tourism arrival in India is 0.6%. Now Ministry of Tourism, Government of India wish to achieve 1% share of world tourism arrival. This is going to be an excellent opportunity for our Host communities. The overall Tourism Travel Competiveness Index ranking of India has improved to 52nd in 2015 as compared to 65th in 2013. Even though we are highly Price Competitive and good in Natural and Cultural Resources, we have to give more focus on Human Resource and Labour for services.
The key to the success of partnership and packaging relationships is to bring Potential cultural and other tourism partnerso together. In this regard, government and the academic community.
The United Nations 70th General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (A/RES/70/193). This is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector, decision-makers and the public, while mobilizing all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism, has been mandated to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year, in collaboration with governments, relevant organizations of the United Nations system, international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders.
The 2030 Agenda considers sustainable tourism as a sector of development, job creation and the promotion of local culture and products. Tourism is part of the Sustainable Development Goals and contributes decisively to almost all 17 Goals through its impacts on fighting poverty, promoting decent jobs, improving gender equality and the livelihoods of young people or the fight against climate change
In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector that can contribute to the SDGs.