TRends

LATEST TRENDS IN INDIAN TOURISM

January 4, 2013 / admin / No comments

India is the land of the wise. Divinity is in the air and pilgrimage is an important part of culture. It is very true that variety is the spice of life. The adage seems to explain the dormant love for variety that we humans seem to be born with. The same love for variety attracts tourists to India. The spirit infuses the desire to explore the different shades of India. India as a popular tourist attraction has innumerable tourist destinations that will satiate the desire of its guests. It will not be an exaggeration to tendentious claim that India has a seemingly infinite variety of incredible destinations. Travel to any corner of the country and there is sure to be a land that will mesmerize you with its vibrant culture and diversity.

RECENT TRENDS IN INDIAN INBOUND TOURISM The phenomenon of Indian tourism since 1950 has been remarkable in terms of growth, expansion and diversification. International tourist arrivals since then have gone from just 25 million to 940 million in 2010. This rapid growth not only led to the globalization of tourism as never before, but also contributed in creating a vibrant industry that is full of opportunities for millions of people. India has witnessed a manifold increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) during 2010 and 2011. FTA has increased from 5,780,000 in 2010 to 6,290,000 in 2011, a growth rate of 8.9% over 2010. The year

2010 witnessed an increase from 5.17 million in 2009 to 5.78 million, registering a growth rate of 11.8% over 2009. With the passage of time, the travel and tourism industry has grown to become one of the largest and most dominant industries in the worlds economy. An in-depth study of the world GDP indicates that travel and tourism alone contributed to 9%, as a result it paved way for a whopping 235 million jobs, representing 8 % of global employment. RECENT TRENDS IN INDIAN OUTBOUND TOURISM Outbound segment travel in India is growing consistently. The rising disposable income coupled with the booming economy has been a factor that has put the outbound travel at its peak. One indicator of the increasing number of Indians with disposable incomes is the noteworthy statistics collected by foreign tourism boards on the arrivals from India. Countries like Singapore, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Australia are vying to obtain a steady and strong inflow of Indian tourists since these countries are rapidly becoming popular destinations for well-to-do Indian. About 50 million Indians are expected to travel overseas by the year 2020, according to estimates developed by Tourism Australia and one of the sectors that the Australian government has set its sights on capitalizing on this travel trend. CONCLUSION It is evident that tourism is no longer only meant for the elite or a whim of selective groups, thousands of people of all walks of the society have adopted it as a means to satisfy psychological gratification. It is time to recognize tourism as a sector with adequate potential.

Indian tourism sector is one of the most crucial sectors of the economy in the country. It is not only a significant contributor to GDP and foreign exchange reserve of the country, but also it provides widespread employment. Tourism sector can also be considered the backbone for allied sectors, like hospitality, civil aviation, and transport. Sensing the importance of the sector, Indian Government has invested abundantly in the past for infrastructure development. It has been partially successful with increase in foreign tourist arrivals over the last decade, courtesy Incredible India Campaign. Infrastructure in the hospitality sector is still a matter of concern amongst other factors like season-based tourism in some states. Domestic tourism is very huge in the country, promoted by various intents. Pilgrim and leisure tourism are two very important sectors. A lot of scope is available for new businesses to enter and tap the segment. With the rising economic status of the middle class and affluent population, outbound travel is on the rise. Though Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore circuit the most favored destinations among the tourists, interest for off-track destinations are also increasing. Foreign tourist arrivals in the country have increased substantially during the past decade

motivated by both, business and leisure needs and are further expected to grow at a CAGR of around 8% during 2010-2014, as per our new research report Indian Tourism Industry Analysis. Our thorough analysis of the tourism sector in India has revealed that it is set for a fast growth stage marked by a huge potential in various segments in the industry. Government initiatives, both at center and state level have facilitated rapid development in the sector and are expected to continue in future as well. The market is fragmented and unorganized but is highly competitive. Also, various trends have emerged during the last few years, which are discussed in details in the report. Our report, Indian Tourism Industry Analysis provides detailed analysis of the tourism sector in India. The report facilitates current industry trends and forecast for foreign tourist arrivals, outbound tourists, domestic tourist visits, and several other factors crucial to future developments at regional level. In addition, a detailed analysis of hotel industry has also been provided. Description of key players is also included to efficiently gauge the competition in the market and to provide a balanced research outlook of the tourism industry.