India's BOOMING TOURISM INDUSTRY

India is a country that attracts millions of tourists every year and is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

- Neeta Baporikar

Introduction

The World Travel & Tourism Council released a report stating that the tourism industry will continue to grow in India and has a great potential for growth due to demand factors arising from the tourists due to an increase in disposable income, increased availability of leisure time and changing lifestyle. Further, this industry in India is one of the largest service industries. Tourism is an integral pillar of the Make in India programme. By 2029, the Indian tourism sector is likely to grow at 6.7% per annum and achieve 9.2% of GDP with USD 488 bn. It is also an industry that provides more than 40 million jobs. There is further potential for employment as this sector is expected to grow at an annual average growth rate of 7.9% till 2023, making India the third fastest-growing tourism destination over the next decade.

Tourism Advancement Milestones

Planning for Indian tourism began after the country's independence. The development of the Indian tourism industry began in the 19th century when the Sir John Sargent Committee was established in 1945 to promote and develop Indian tourism. Major milestones in the advancement of tourism are: