Lok Sabha Question No. 1510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-01
Subject: Jobs Created by Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Pritam Gopinath Munde, Shrirang Appa Barne, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Vinayak Bhaurao Raut, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1510 ANSWERED ON 01.07.2019

## JOBS CREATED BY TOURISM

1510. DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

SHRI SRIRANGA APPA BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI VINAYAK RAUT:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the tourism sector contributed nine per cent to India's GDP and eight per cent to its total employment and if so, the facts thereof;
- (b) the  number  of  jobs  created  by  the  tourism  sector  during  the last four years;
- (c) whether  as  per  the  World  Travel  and  Tourism  Council,  less than  five  per  cent  of  foreign  tourists  who  visited  the  AsiaPacific region come to India;
- (d)
- whether there is a need to spend more on tourism sector; and
- (e) if  so,  the  response  of  the  Government  in  this  regard  and  the steps taken by the Government to attract more foreign tourists to India?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) and (b): The tourism sector contributed an estimated (direct +  indirect)  5.06%  to  the  Gross  Domestic  Product  of  the  country during 2016-17. The estimated share (direct + indirect) of jobs due to  tourism  was  12.38%  during  2017-18.  An  estimated  additional 13.92  million  jobs  (direct  +  indirect)  were  created  due  to  tourism during the years from 2014-15 to 2017-18.

(c): No, Sir.

Ministry  of  Tourism,  Government  of  India  spent  Rs. 1687.06 crore and Rs. 1986.04 crore during the years 2017-18 and 2018-19 respectively under its plan scheme on tourism sector. The Budget Estimate under the plan scheme for the sector during  the

(d) to (e): financial year 2019-20 is Rs. 2075.12 crore.

Development and promotion of tourist places is primarily the responsibility  of  concerned  State  Government/  UT  Administration. However,  the  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  India  as  a  holistic destination covering its various tourism destinations and products across different States/Union Territories in the country. Ministry has taken  several  initiatives  to  boost  tourism  in  the  country  with  the objective of increasing tourist arrivals, which inter-alia include:

-  Central Financial Assistance to States/UTs under the schemes of Swadesh Darshan, National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) and Assistance to Central Agencies for the development of tourism related infrastructure in the country.
-  Extension of e- visa facility to citizens of 167 countries.
-  Launch  of  the  Incredible  India  2.0  campaign  with  market specific promotional plans and content creation.
-  Revamping of Incredible India website with the aim to provide more information about India as a tourist destination.
-  Launch  of  24x7  toll  free  multi-lingual  tourist  helpline  in  12 International languages including Hindi and English.
-  Organisation  of  annual  Global  Tourism  Mart  for  India  in  line with  major  international  travel  marts  being  held  in  countries across the world. It provides a platform for all stakeholders in tourism  and  hospitality  industries  to  interact  and  transact business opportunities.
-  Organisation of biennial International Buddhist Conclave.
-  Organisation of Annual International Tourism Mart for promotion of tourism in North Eastern States.
-  Promotional activities in tourist generating markets overseas through the India Tourism Offices abroad with active participation  in  travel  fairs  and  exhibitions;  organising  Road Shows, 'Know India' seminars & workshops.

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