Steps to increase tourism in India

-- Maria Rose Joseph, VIII-F, Indian Educational School (Bhavans)

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

India, the seventh largest country in the world located in the continent of Asia with a population of over 2 billion people is very famous for its culture, that is music, food, dances and music, architectural wonders, and many more. In this article, we will be discussing how we can encourage and promote more tourism in India. Travel and tourism play an important role in the economy of India which is ranked 14th in the whole world for its contribution to tourism to the GDP or Gross Domestic Product. But how does tourism become a main source of income for the country? Tourism boosts the revenue of the economy, creates thousands of jobs, and also creates a sense of unity between the natives of the country and the tourists. India’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism amounted to nearly 9 billion dollars.

In 2019 it increased by 26 percent. Tourism became the third-largest foreign exchange earner for the country. But now let’s talk about what is there in India that attracts a crowd of about 10 million people every year. India is home to some of the finest architecture, dances, music, art, etc. From a temple carved with just one rock to a mausoleum made entirely out of white marble, India houses everything an adventurous tourist would love. One of the most important monuments is the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a very famous mosque-mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The mausoleum was built as an order given by the famous Mughal emperor Shahjahan in memory of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal after she died. It is the jewel of Muslim art in India and is one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage. The monument is a blend of Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles. The next monument we will be discussing is the Konark Sun temple. The Konark Sun temple located in Konark, Odisha is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is famous for its geometrical patterns and carved wheels which were used as sundials. One can witness three images of the sun god in three directions which catch the rays of the sun at dawn, noon, and sunset. Although these are not the only monuments in India, several other monuments are still standing despite the natural calamities that struck India like earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Despite housing some of the finest pieces of history, why is India still behind in the field of tourism compared to other countries? India is still behind in tourism due to a lack of infrastructure. It is a major challenge for the Indian tourism sector.

This includes hotels, connectivity with other cities, health facilities, transportation, etc. But how can we fight this and encourage tourism in our country? We can encourage tourism by giving tourism start-ups a bigger push. Innovative start-ups should be encouraged. Support from the government and access to finance is also very necessary. The Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth in the service sector in India. We must provide world-class facilities to foreign as well as local tourists. Special tourism packages, e- visa facilities, better transport, boarding, lodging facilities, etc. will surely attract more tourists. In conclusion, we can say that India is home to where different cultures and heritages meet and live in unity and harmony. ‘Atithi Devo bhava’ is a Sanskrit phrase that translates to ‘Guest is God. Come, lets us welcome the tourists that visit our beautiful country India with open hands and follow this centuries-old tradition.

Thank You.

Maria Rose Joseph, VIII-F, Indian Educational School (Bhavans)