Lok Sabha Question No. 2334 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: Contribution of Tourism to GDP
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†2334 ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM TO GDP

## †2334. SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  huge  growth  has  been  registered  in  religious  and medical tourism in the country during the recent years;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  its  contribution  to  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps for promotion of tourism sector in the country;
- (d) if so, the details of schemes proposed/formulated development of tourism sector in the country;
- for
- (e) whether  the  outline  prepared  by  the  Government  is  likely  to work in service sector also; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b): The number of Domestic Tourist Visits to all States/Union Territories  (UTs),  including  the  visits  for  religious  and  medical purpose, has increased to 161.4 Crore in 2016 from 143.2 Crore in 2015, registering a growth of 12.7% in 2016 over 2015.

The number  of Foreign Tourist Visits to all States/UTs, including the visits for religious and medical purpose, has increased to 2.5 Crore in 2016 from 2.3 Crore in 2015, registering a growth of 5.9% in 2016 over 2015.

The number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals, as differentiated from Foreign Tourist Visits,  in  India  has  increased  to  88.0  lakh  in  2016 from 80.3 lakh in  2015,  registering  a  growth  of  9.7%  in  2016  over 2015.

As  per  the  information  available  for  the  current  year,  the number  of  Foreign  Tourist  Arrivals  in  India  during  January-June 2017 were 48.8 lakh registering a  growth of  17.2%  over the same period of 2016.

As per the 2 nd  Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) of India - 200910 and subsequent estimation, the contribution of tourism to total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 were 6.77%, 6.76%, 6.76% and 6.88% respectively

(c): Yes, Madam.

(d): The  major  schemes  operated  by  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  for development  and  promotion  of  tourism  in  the  country  are  given below:

-  Swadesh Darshan -Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits on Specific Themes
-  National  Mission  for  Pilgrimage  Rejuvenation  and  Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD)
-  Overseas Promotion and Publicity including Market Development Assistance
-  Assistance to IHMs/FCIs/IITTM/NCHMCT
-  Domestic Promotion and Publicity including Hospitality
-  Capacity Building for Service Providers
-  Computerization and Information Technology

(e) & (f): Tourism  is  a  demand  based  concept  defined  not  by  its output but by its use. It consumes the output of various industries like Passenger Transport (Air/ Rail/Road), Hotels & Restaurants, etc. The initiatives taken by the Ministry to boost tourism in the country under  various  schemes  would  in  turn  benefit  the  various  service industries  by  way  of  increasing  demands  and  inter-alia  direct  and indirect employment generation.

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