India's foreign tourist arrivals touch new high at 1cr mark
2017 was a stupendous year for the Indian tourism industry. Foreign tourist arrivals touched a new high and crossed the 1cr mark, an increase of 15.2% over the previous year. This meant earnings of over $27bn (Rs. 1.75L crore), up by 20.2%. But Tourism Minister KJ Alphons wants these numbers to "increase dramatically," and has plans to make it happen.
India's Tourism Competitiveness Index ranking went up 25 places
The rise in numbers pushed up India's ranking on the Tourism Competitiveness Index from 65 in 2013 to 40 in 2017. Officials in the tourism ministry attributed the improvement to infrastructure development and promotion of theme-based and religious circuits under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. The initiative aims at holistic development of pilgrimage destinations. Currently, there are 67 projects under this scheme, a source said.
The best tourism destinations in India
In November, the World Travel and Tourism Council India Initiative and Hotelivate ranked Delhi first among all Indian states in tourism. Maharashtra and Goa followed at the second spot. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh made up the top 10. The northeastern states performed poorly, held back by their inaccessibility via air or rail.
There are times when plans backfire
Not every idea is a good idea. Fodor's Travel, a popular travel guide, has advised its 1.14mn followers to avoid the Taj Mahal in 2018. The reason? Its planned "facelift" through mud-pack therapy. Though ASI says one side of the monument will remain uncovered, Fodors urges people to skip it "unless your dream Taj visit involves being photographed in front of a mudcaked and scaffolded dome."
Next on the list is pushing niche products
But the ministry has other plans too. The focus would be on 'Looking East' to boost tourism to the northeastern states. Another idea is to push a niche product, and officials said they have zeroed in on women's polo. The Manipur team, which has won critical acclaim, will be roped in. India's golf courses have also been mentioned in the 'Incredible India' campaign.
