CURRENT-AFFAIRS

General Studies Paper – II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations

Context

India is world-famous for its diverse geography, rich cultural heritage, and historical monuments. The concept of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (The guest is God) has been the core of our culture. However, India's position in the current global tourism market is not commensurate with its potential. Figures for the year 2025 show that despite being a vast country, India lags significantly behind smaller countries like Singapore and Thailand in terms of attracting foreign tourists.

What is "Beautiful vs. Functional"?

In the context of this article, "Beautiful" refers to India's natural beauty, heritage, and diversity, which attracts tourists. On the other hand, "Functional" refers to those basic facilities that make a tourist's journey smooth:

• Image: Global perception as a safe and clean country.
• Infrastructure: Seamless connectivity from airports to monuments and world-class facilities.
• Experience: Hassle-free transport, transparent pricing, and safety of tourists.

Why in the News?

Comparative figures up to August 2025 clarify the concerning state of Indian tourism:

• Tourist Numbers: 5.6 million foreign tourists visited India, while the small country of Singapore saw 11.6 million.
• Revenue: Thailand earned more than $60 billion from tourism, while India's earnings were not even a third of that.
• Population vs. Attraction: Despite a population of 1.4 billion and a vast area, India is struggling to achieve its rightful share in the global tourism market.

Role of Tourism in India's Economy

• Contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Tourism holds a large share in India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to data, this sector contributes approximately 7% to 9% to India's total GDP. It includes ancillary industries such as hotels, transport, entertainment, and food.
• Employment Generation: The tourism sector is one of the largest employment-providing sectors in India.
  • It provides a livelihood to millions of people both directly (e.g., guides, hotel staff, travel agents) and indirectly (e.g., handicraft sellers, local transport drivers, farmers).
  • A unique feature of tourism is that it provides work to all three types of workers—unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled.
• Foreign Exchange Earnings: When foreign tourists visit India, they spend on accommodation, food, and shopping, through which India receives foreign exchange (e.g., Dollar, Euro). This helps in improving the country's Balance of Payments.
• Infrastructure Development: To develop tourist destinations, the government invests in roads, airports, railways, and telecommunication facilities. This development is not only for tourists but also improves the living standards of local residents. For example, the 'UDAN' scheme has strengthened regional air connectivity.
• Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage: A portion of the income earned from tourism is spent on the maintenance of historical monuments (e.g., Taj Mahal, Red Fort) and wildlife sanctuaries (e.g., Kaziranga, Manas). This keeps our heritage secure.
• Balanced Regional Development: Tourism is often spread across remote areas (e.g., Ladakh, North-East India, or the backwaters of Kerala). It brings money and facilities to those regions where large industries cannot be established, thereby reducing regional inequality.
• India's 'Soft Power': When foreign tourists experience Indian culture, Yoga, Ayurveda, and hospitality, it strengthens India's image at the global level. The spirit of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' strengthens international relations.

Steps Taken by the Government

• Major Infrastructure Schemes
  • Swadesh Darshan Scheme: Under this, 'theme-based' tourist circuits (e.g., Ramayana Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit) are being developed in the country. Its new version 'Swadesh Darshan 2.0' is now emphasizing destination-centric development.
  • PRASHAD Scheme: Its full name is 'Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive'. Its objective is to rejuvenate religious sites (e.g., Varanasi, Mathura, Kedarnath) and increase basic facilities there.
  • UDAN Scheme: This scheme has made air access to far-flung tourist destinations cheap and accessible, leading to an increase in tourism in 'Tier-2' and 'Tier-3' cities.
• Policy and Digital Initiatives
  • e-Visa Facility: India has started the e-Tourist Visa facility for citizens of more than 160 countries, making it very simple to visit India now.
  • Atithi Devo Bhava and Incredible India: For India's branding at the global level, the 'Incredible India 2.0' campaign is being run, which focuses on social media and digital platforms.
  • Dekho Apna Desh: This campaign was started to promote domestic tourism after Covid-19, in which citizens were encouraged to see the diversity of their own country.
• Special Tourism Sectors and Innovation
  • Medical Tourism: India has promoted medical tourism through the 'Heal in India' initiative, in which special 'AYUSH Visas' are being given to foreign tourists to take advantage of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga) and modern medical facilities.
  • Cruise Tourism: Development of Ganga Vilas (the world's longest river cruise) and cruise terminals in coastal areas is being done to promote this high-value sector.
  • Adventure and Eco-Tourism: New policies have been formulated for adventure sports and eco-friendly tourism in Himalayan regions and North-East India.
• Investment and Ease of Doing Business
  • 100% FDI: 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been permitted under the automatic route in the tourism and hospitality sector.
  • Infrastructure Status to Hotel Sector: The demand to grant 'Infrastructure' status to large hotel projects is being considered so that they can obtain loans at lower interest rates.
• Skill Development and Safety
  • Hunar Se Rozgar Tak: Under this program, youth are being given short-term training in sectors like hotel management, guiding, and catering.
  • Tourist Police and Helpline: To ensure the safety of tourists, special 'Tourist Police' have been deployed in many states and a 1363 multilingual helpline number has been issued.

Obstacles in the Path of Success for the Tourism Sector

According to the article, there are some deep-seated 'malaises' in India's tourism strategy:

• Safety Concerns: Global perception regarding the safety of foreign tourists, especially women.
• Lack of Cleanliness: Lack of waste management and sanitation at tourist destinations.
• Complex Processes: Technical and administrative hurdles in visa, transport, and ticket booking.
• Over-commercialization: The tendency to overcharge tourists, which spoils their experience.

Analysis

Tourism is not just about showing monuments but about providing an 'end-to-end' experience. The secret of the success of Thailand and Singapore lies in their "Functionality." There, a tourist does not face any inconvenience in traveling from the airport to the hotel and tourist spots. India has the 'content' (beauty and history), but we lag in 'delivery' (service and convenience). Until infrastructure and security are world-class, India will remain merely a "tantalizing idea."

Way Forward

• Digitalization and Accessibility: A single-window app for tourists providing transport, guides, and emergency assistance.
• Sanitation Campaign: Developing major tourism centers as 'Zero-Waste' zones.
• Security Protocol: Making 'Tourist Police' more empowered and friendly to build confidence among foreign tourists.
• Change in Branding: Focusing on 'Safe and Seamless India' instead of just showing 'Incredible India.'

Conclusion

India's beauty is undeniable, but beauty alone is not enough for the tourism industry to flourish. We must move beyond 'Beautiful India' and work towards becoming 'Functional India.' If we overcome our basic shortcomings, the tourism sector will not only become a reservoir of foreign exchange but also create new employment opportunities for millions of Indians.

General Studies Paper – III: Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management