DEZVOLTAREA I IMPACTUL TURISMULUI N ECONOMIA INDIEI INTRODUCERE n ultimele decenii turismul a cunoscut o cretere continu i o diversificare vast, devenind

unul din sectoarele economice cu cea mai rapid cretere din lume. Turismul a devenit o industrie nfloritoare pe plan mondial, care poate avea att impact pozitiv ct i negativ asupra economiei rilor n curs de dezvoltare. Nu este de mirare faptul c a devenit a patra mare industrie din economia global. n mod similar, n rile n curs de dezvoltare, precum India, turismul a devenit unul dintre sectoarele majore ale economiei, contribuind la o mare parte din venitul naional i genernd oportuniti uriae de locuri de munc. A nregistrat cea mai rapid cretere n industria serviciilor din ar, avnd un potenial mare de continu expansiune i diversificare. Cu toate acestea, exist argumente pro i contra n privina dezvoltrii industriei turismului n India.

Dezvoltarea Turismului n INDIA

nceputul dezvoltrii industriei turistice. Primele eforturi contiente i organizate depuse pentru promovarea turismul n India au fost fcute n 1945, cnd a fost nfiinat de ctre Guvern un comitet sub preedinia lui Sir John Sargent. Ulterior, ncepnd cu anul 1956 dezvoltarea turismului s-a fcut n mod planificat, fiind elaborate planuri cincinale. Al aselea plan cincinal a marcat nceputul unei noi ere cnd turismul a nceput s fie considerat un instrument important pentru integrarea social i dezvoltarea economic a rii. Activitatea turistic a luat ns avnt abia n anii 80. n aceast perioad guvernul a luat o serie de msuri semnificative. n 1982 a fost anunat Politica naional n domeniul turismului. Mai trziu, n 1988, Comitetul Naional pentru Turism a formulat un plan global pentru realizarea unei creteri durabile a turismului. Au fost elaborate Planul Naional de Aciune 1992 i Strategia Naional de Promovare a Turismului 1996. n 1997, prin intermediul Noii politici de turism a fost recunoscut rolul guvernelor Centrale i de stat, al ntreprinderilor din sectorul public i sectorul privat n dezvoltarea turismului precum i nevoia de implicare a instituiilor Panchayati Raj, a organelor locale i a organizaiilor nonguvernamentale i locale de tineret n crearea de faciliti n domeniul turismului. Situaia actual i caracteristicile turismului din India Astzi, turismul ocup locul nti n industria serviciilor din India, cu o contribuie de 8,6% la PIB-ul naional i furnizeaz 10,00% din totalul locurilor de munc. n anul 2009 5,11 mil turiti strini au vizitat India, n timp ce numrul turitilor interni a fost de 650 mil. Industria turistic din India a generat venituri totale de 117 miliarde dolari SUA n anul 2010 i se estimeaz c cifra veniturilor din turism va crete pn la 330 miliarde dolari SUA pn n anul 2020. Ministerul Turismului este principalul agent care lucreaz pentru dezvoltarea i promovarea turismului n India desfurnd n prezent campania "Incredible India". Potrivit OMT, India va fi una dintre cele mai importante destinaii turistice exotice n perioada 2009-2018, avnd cel mai mare potenial de cretere n urmtorii zece ani. Conform Raportului privind competitivitatea n industria turismului i cltoriilor din 2011 realizat de ctre Forumul Economic Mondial, India se afl pe locul 12 n regiunea Asia-Pacific i pe locul 68 la nivel mondial, stabilindu-se cu ase locuri mai jos fa de anul anterior. Din punct

de vedere al resurselor naturale, India se claseaz pe locul 8-lea, iar din punct de vedere al resurselor culturale pe locul 24, cu multe monumente incluse n Patrimoniului Mondial att naturale ct i antropice. India are o faun bogat, mai multe festivaluri i expoziii, i industrii extrem de creative. Transportul aerian este destul de satisfctor (locul 39), n special avnd n vedere stadiul de dezvoltare al rii. Infrastructura de transport la sol este de asemenea rezonabil (locul 43). Cu toate acestea, unele aspecte ale infrastructurii turistice rmn oarecum subdezvoltate (locul 89), cu foarte puine camere de hotel comparativ cu media internaional i o joas penetrare a ATM-urilor. Un alt domeniu de interes este politica de mediu, care a scazut calitativ considerabil, fa de ultima evaluare India clasndu-se acum pe locul 128. Dureaz foarte mult s ncepi o afacere aici, i este i extrem de costisitor, exist nelegeri ntre companiile aeriene departe de a fi transparente, i sunt necesare vize pentru majoritatea vizitatorilor. Alte domenii care necesit atenie sunt standardele de sntate i igien (India ocup locul 112 la nivel mondial) i resursele umane de baz ale rii (locul 96 n lume). n plus, n Country Brand Index, studiu efectuat de Future Brand, o companie de consultan de brand la nivel mondial, India a s-a clasat pe locul al doilea la categoria "cel mai bun brand de ar care promoveaz istoria" i printre primele cinci poziii la categoria cel mai bun brand de ar ce promoveaz autenticitatea, arta i cultura, fiind a patra ar care promoveaz turismul pentru mediul de afaceri. India a s-a nscris astfel n topul "vedetelor" rile care sunt susceptibile de a deveni destinaii turistice majore n urmtorii cinci ani, condus de Emiratele Arabe Unite, China, i Vietnam. Atraciile turistice: India este o ar cunoscut pentru ospitalitatea oferit tuturor vizitatorilor, indiferent de ara de provenien. Tradiiile, stilurile de via variate, patrimoniul cultural i festivalurile pline de culoare i-au atras dintotdeauna pe turiti. Alte atracii includ plajele nsorite, pdurile i viaa slbatic pe care o adpostesc, peisajele ncnttoare pentru eco-turism, zpada, munii nali i rurile de munte unde se poate practica turismul de aventur, parcuri tehnologice i muzeele turismul tiinific, centrele de pelerinaj pentru turismul spiritual; patrimoniul, trenuri i hoteluri pentru patrimoniul turistic, Yoga, Ayurveda i staiunile din regiunile montane unde se poate practica turismul medical. Obiectele artizanale indiene, n special bijuteriile, covoarele, produsele din piele sau din filde, manufacturile sunt principalele obiecte aflat pe lista de cumprturi a turitilor strini; se estimeaz c aceste obiecte reprezint aproape 40 % din cheltuielile turitilor. n ciuda ncetinirii creterii economice, turismul medical nregistreaz cea mai rapid cretere din industria turismului, conform cercetrii de pia Booming Medical Tourism in India. Raportul subliniaz faptul c potenialul mare al Indiei n industria turismului medical este susinut de factori precum costurile sczute i gama larg de tratamente medicale puse la dispoziia turitilor. IMPACTUL TURISMULUI N INDIA Industria turismului din India are att impact pozitiv ct i negativ asupra economiei i societii. Aceste efecte sunt evideniate mai jos. IMPACT POZITIV 1. Genereaz venituri i locuri de munc: Turismul n India a devenit un instrument generator de venituri i de locuri de munc, avnd un potenial substanial de reducere a srciei i de sporire a dezvoltrii umane durabile. Acesta contribuie cu un procent de 8,6% la Produsul Intern Brut i de 10,00% din totalul ocuprii forei de munc n India. Aproape 49 de milioane de oameni lucreaz n prezent n industria turismului n India. 2. Surs de Ctiguri din schimb valutar: Turismul este o surs important de venituri valutare n India. Acest lucru are impact favorabil asupra balanei de pli a rii. Industria

turismului n India a generat aproximativ 117 miliarde de dolari n 2010 i se preconizeaz s creasc la 330 miliarde dolari SUA pn n 2020. 3. Conservarea Patrimoniului Naional i a Mediului: Turismul ajut la conservarea unei serii de locuri importante din punct de vedere istoric, declarndu-le situri de patrimoniu. De exemplu, Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, Ajanta i temple Ellora, etc, ar fi fost distruse dac Departamentul de Turism nu ar fi ntreprins eforturi pentru a le conserva. De asemenea, turismul, ajut la conservarea habitatelor naturale n care triesc multe specii pe cale de dispariie. 4. Dezvoltarea infrastructurii: Turismul tinde s ncurajeze dezvoltarea infrastructurii folosite n scopuri multiple de care beneficiaz i comunitatea gazd, inclusiv diferite mijloace de transport, faciliti de ngrijire a sntii, centre sportive i, n plus hoteluri i restaurante care ofer servicii vizitatorilor strini. Dezvoltarea infrastructurii influeneaz la rndul su dezvoltarea altor sectoare din industria serviciilor. 5. Promovarea pcii i a stabilitii: unele studii sugereaz c industria turismului poate ajuta, de asemenea, la promovarea pcii i a stabilitii n rile n curs de dezvoltare precum India, prin oferirea de locuri de munc, generarea de venituri, diversificarea economiei, protecia mediului, promovarea contientizrii transculturale. Cu toate acestea pentru a beneficia de pe urma efectelor pozitive ale industriei turistice n privina promovrii pcii i a stabilitii, trebuie reglementate anumite aspecte-cheie precum crearea unor mecanisme pentru reducerea criminalitii i corupiei, etc, IMPACT NEGATIV 1. Schimbri sociale i culturale nedorite: Turismul poate duce uneori la distrugerea structurii sociale a unei comuniti. Cu ct este mai mare numrul de turiti care viziteaz un loc, cu att crete riscul ca acel loc s-i piard identitatea. Un astfel de exemplu este Goa. ncepnd cu sfritul anilor 60 i pn la nceputul anilor 80, cnd cultura Hippy a atins maximul de expansiune, Goa a fost un refugiu pentru hipioti. Au venit aici cu miile i au schimbat intreaga cultur a statului care a condus la o cretere a consumului de droguri, dezvoltarea prostituiei i a traficului de fiine umane. Aceasta a avut un efect de und de oc asupra rii, ncurajnd astfel de fenomene pe ntreg teritoriul Indiei. 2. Creterea ostilitii i a tensiunii: Turismul poate duce la creterea tensiunii i a ostilitii ntre turiti i comunitile locale atunci cnd nu exist respect i nelegere reciproc pentru cultura i modul de via al celorlali. Acest lucru poate duce la violen i la alte crime comise mpotriva turitilor, aa cum s-a ntmplat din nefericire n Goa cnd a fost comis crima mpotriva turitilor rui. 3. Crearea unui sentiment de antipatie: Turismul n India a adus foarte puine beneficii pentru comunitatea local. n majoritatea cazurilor veniturile din pachetele turistice all-inclusive mai mult de 80% din venituri revin companiilor aeriene, hotelurilor si altor companii internationale, i nu oamenilor de afaceri locali i lucrtorilor. Mai mult dect att, restaurantele din marile lanuri hoteliere import alimentele de cele mai multe ori pentru a satisface vizitatorii strini i rareori angajeaz personal local pentru posturi de conducere, mpiedicndu-i pe fermierii locali i lucrtorii de a beneficia de prezena lor. Acest lucru creeaz adesea un sentiment de antipatie fa de turiti i de guvern. 4. Efecte negative asupra mediului: unul dintre cele mai importante efecte adverse ale turismului asupra mediului este creterea presiunii asupra capacitii de rezisten a ecosistemului n localitile turistice. Intensificarea activitilor de transport i de construcie a dus la defriri pe scar larg i la destabilizarea formelor de relief naturale, n timp ce creterea fluxului de turiti a condus la creterea deeurilor solide, a dumpingului, precum i la epuizarea resurselor de ap i de combustibil. Fluxul de turiti n zonele sensibile din punct de vedere ecologic a dus la distrugerea speciilor rare i pe cale de dispariie din cauza

vntorii i a perturbrii habitatelor de reproducere. Poluarea fonic datorat vehiculelor poluarea apei, emisiile noxe de la vehicule, canalizarea netratat, etc, de asemenea, au efecte directe asupra bio-diversitii, mediului nconjurtor i profilului general al punctelor turistice. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TOURISM IN INDIA The tourism industry in India can have several positive and negative impact on the environment which are discuss below. POSITIVE IMPACTS 1. Direct Financial Contributions Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Special fees for park operations or conservation activities can be collected from tourists or tour operators. 2. Contributions to Government Revenues The Indian government through the tourism department also collect money in more farreaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment, and license fees for activities such as rafting and fishing can provide governments with the funds needed to manage natural resources. Such funds can be used for overall conservation programs and activities, such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance. 3. Improved Environmental Management and Planning Sound environmental management of tourism facilities and especially hotels can increase the benefits to natural environment. By planning early for tourism development, damaging and expensive mistakes can be prevented, avoiding the gradual deterioration of environmental assets significant to tourism. The development of tourism has moved the Indian government towards this direction leading to improved environmental management. 4. Raising Environmental Awareness Tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness of environmental problems when it brings people into closer contact with nature and the environment. This confrontation heightens awareness of the value of nature among the community and lead to environmentally conscious behavior and activities to preserve the environment. 6. Protection and Preservation of Environment Tourism can significantly contribute to environmental protection, conservation and restoration of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources. Because of their attractiveness, pristine sites and natural areas are identified as valuable and the need to keep the attraction alive can lead to creation of national parks and wildlife parks. In India, new laws and regulations have been enacted to preserve the forest and to protect native species. The coral reefs around the coastal areas and the marine life that depend on them for survival are also protected. Negative Impacts 1. Depletion of Natural Resources: Tourism development can put pressure on natural resources when it increases consumption in areas where resources are already scarce. (i) Water resources: Water, especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of waste water. (www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/index.html). In dryer regions like Rajasthan, the issue of water scarcity is of particular concern.

(ii) Local resources: Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Greater extraction and transport of these resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with their exploitation. Because of the seasonal character of the industry, many destinations have ten times more inhabitants in the high season as in the low season. A high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.). (iii) Land degradation: Important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil, forests, wetland and wildlife. Increased construction of tourism and recreational facilities has increased the pressure on these resources and on scenic landscapes. Direct impact on natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, in the provision of tourist facilities is caused by the use of land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision, and the use of building materials (www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/index.html) Forests often suffer negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing e.g. the trekking in the Himalayan region, Sikkim and Assam. 2. Pollution Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution (www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/index.html). (i) Air and Noise Pollution: Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the rising number of tourist activities in India. Transport emissions and emissions from energy production and use are linked to acid rain, global warming and photochemical pollution. Air pollution from tourist transportation has impacts on the global level, especially from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to transportation energy use. And it can contribute to severe local air pollution. Some of these impacts are quite specific to tourist activities where the sites are in remote areas like Ajanta and Ellora temples. For example, tour buses often leave their motors running for hours while the tourists go out for an excursion because they want to return to a comfortably air-conditioned bus. Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as recreational vehicles is an ever-growing problem of modern life. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for humans, it causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas (www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/index.html). (ii) Solid waste and littering: In areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and appealing natural attractions, waste disposal is a serious problem and improper disposal can be a major despoiler of the natural environment - rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides. In mountain areas of the Himalayas and Darjeeling, trekking tourists generate a great deal of waste. Tourists on expedition leave behind their garbage, oxygen cylinders and even camping equipment. Such practices degrade the environment particularly in remote areas because they have few garbage collection or disposal facilities (www.gdrc.org/uem/ecotour/envi/index.html). (iii) Sewage: Construction of hotels, recreation and other facilities often leads to increased sewage pollution. Wastewater has polluted seas and lakes surrounding tourist attractions, damaging the flora and fauna. Sewage runoff causes serious damage to coral reefs because it stimulates the growth of algae, which cover the filter-feeding corals, hindering their ability to survive. Changes in salinity and siltation can have wide-ranging impacts on coastal environments. And sewage pollution can threaten the health of humans and animals. Examples of such pollution can be seen in the coastal states of Goa, Kerela, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, etc. 3. Destruction and Alteration of Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a geographic area including all the living organisms (people, plants, animals, and micro-organisms), their physical surroundings (such as soil, water, and air), and the natural cycles that sustain them. Attractive landscape sites, such as sandy beaches in Goa, Maharashtra, Kerela, Tamil Nadu; lakes, riversides, and mountain tops and slopes, are often transitional zones, characterized by species-rich ecosystems. The threats to and pressures on these ecosystems are often severe because such places are very attractive to both tourists and developers. Examples may be cited from Krushedei Island near Rameswaram. What was once called paradise for marine biologists has been abandoned due to massive destruction of coral and other marine life. Another area of concern which emerged at Jaisalmer is regarding the deterioration of the desert ecology due to increased tourist activities in the desert. Moreover, habitat can be degraded by tourism leisure activities. For example, wildlife viewing can bring about stress for the animals and alter their natural behavior when tourists come too close. Safaris and wildlife watching activities have a degrading effect on habitat as they often are accompanied by the noise and commotion created by tourists.