The indian Tourism sector plays a very important role in the economy of the country. The contribution of Tourism in GDP for the Financial Year 2012-13 is estimated to be 6.88% and contribution to employment is estimated to be 12.36% in the same year. The Tourism sector also contributes to Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) in a big way with FEEs from Tourism standing at Rs 107671 cr in INR terms in 2013.
Growth in Tourism
Inbound Tourism: India received 65.8 lakh (Provisional) visitors during the period January-November, 2014 which is the highest ever number of visitors received till November in any year during the last decade. The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) during this period showed a commendable increase of 7.1 percent over the same period during the previous year. The FTAs for the entire year 2013 were 69.7 lakhs showing a growth of 5.9% over the previous year. In comparison, the growth rate in International Tourist Arrivals for the World as a whole was only 5% in 2013.
Nearly 16% of FTAs during 2013 were from the USA followed by 11.62% from UK and then Bangladesh with 7.53%.
Domestic Tourists : No. of Domestic Tourist Visits to all States/UTs were- 1145 Million in 2013 showing a Growth Rate of 9.6% over the previous year.
Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI): As per the TTCI, 2013 of the World Economic Forum, India ranks 11th in Asia and Pacific region and 65th amongst 140 countries in tourism competitiveness. Improving ranking of India from 65th to 62nd position in travel and tourism competitiveness has been set as a target in the Result Framework Document (RFD) of M/o Tourism for the year 2014-15.
The Government has also set a target to achieve one percent share in global tourism arrivals during 2015 which is sought to be achieved with the help of a multi- pronged strategy. India’s share in global tourism arrivals in 2013 was 0.64%.
Foreign Exchange Earnings: During the January to November period of 2014, the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from tourism crossed the mark of 1 lakh crore rupees (standing at Rs 1, 07,208 crore) showing a growth of 12.1 percent over the FEEs of the same period last year.
FEE from tourism in terms of US$ during January- November 2014 were US$ 17.606 billion with a growth of 5.2%, as compared to US$ 16.742 billion with a growth of 4.9% during January- November 2013 over the corresponding period of 2012.
Tourist Visas on Arrival (TVOAs) enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA):
The year 2014 will remain a historic year for tourism industry since the Government implemented the first phase of Tourist Visas on Arrival (TVOAs) enabled by Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). As a result of this, more than 22,000 visas were processed till 31.12.2014 since its launch on 27th November, 2014. Out of this, 6100 TVOAs are from the US and 3800 from Russia. The Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Scheme was launched on 27.11.2014 for nationals of 43 countries whose sole objective of visiting India is recreation, sight- seeing, short duration medical treatment, casual business visit, casual visit to meet friends or relatives etc. for a short stay of 30 days A brochure on Visa-on-Arrival enabled by ETA has also been published.
