DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT OF TOURISM INDUSTRY IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION The one land that all men desire to see & having seen once, by even glimpse, would not even glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined is said by Mark Twain on India. The Macmillan Dictionary defines tourism as the business of providing services for people who are travelling for their holiday. Wikipedia defines it as travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The OECD glossary of statistical terms defined tourism as the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. Over the decades, tourism has experienced continued growth and deepening diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world. Tourism has become a thriving global industry with the power to shape developing countries in both positive and negative ways. No doubt it has become the fourth largest industry in the global economy. Similarly, in developing countries like India tourism has become one of the major sectors of the economy, contributing to a large proportion of the National Income and generating huge employment opportunities. It has become the fastest growing service industry in the country with great potentials for its further expansion and diversification. However, there are pros and cons involved with the development of tourism industry in the country. DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN INDIA Tourism development in India has passed through many phases.

Development of Tourism Industry in India

j Early Development The first conscious and organized efforts to promote tourism in India were made in 1945 when a committee was set up by the Government under the Chairmanship of Sir John Sargent, the then Educational Adviser to the Government of India (Krishna, A.G., 1993). Thereafter, the development of tourism was taken up in a planned manner in 1956 coinciding with the Second Five Year Plan. The approach has evolved from isolated planning of single unit facilities in the Second and Third Five Year Plans. The Sixth Plan marked the beginning of a new era when tourism began to be considered a major instrument for social integration and economic development. But it was only after the 80 s that tourism activity gained momentum. The Government took several significant steps. A National Policy on tourism was announced in 1982. Later in 1988, the National Committee on Tourism formulated a comprehensive plan for achieving a sustainable growth in tourism. In 1992, a National Action Plan was prepared and in 1996 the National Strategy for Promotion of Tourism was drafted. In 1997, the New Tourism Policy recognizes the roles of Central and State governments, public sector undertakings and the private sector in the development of tourism were. The need for involvement of Panchayati Raj institutions, local bodies, non-governmental organizations and the local youth in the creation of tourism facilities has also been recognized. j Present Situation and Features of Tourism in India Today tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 6.23% to the National GDP and providing 8.78% of the total employment. India witness s more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 562 million domestic tourism visits. The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of tourism in India and maintains the "Incredible India" campaign.

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According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism hotspot from 2009-2018, having the highest 10-year growth potential. India currently holds the 12th position in Asia and 68th position in the list of overall in the list of the world's most attractive tourist destinations, as per the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011 by the World Economic Forum (WEF). It is ranked the 14th best tourist destination for its natural resources and 24th for its cultural resources, with many World Heritage Sites, both natural and cultural, rich fauna, and strong creative industries in the country. India also bagged 37th rank for its air transport network. The India travel and tourism industry ranked 5 th in the long-term (10year) growth and is expected to be the second largest employer in the world by 2019. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are expected to significantly boost tourism in India further. Moreover, India has been ranked the "best country brand for value-for-money" in the Country Brand Index (CBI) survey conducted by Future Brand, a leading global brand consultancy. India also claimed the second place in CBI's "best country brand for history", as well as appears among the top 5 in the best country brand for authenticity and art & culture, and the fourth best new country for business. India made it to the list of "rising stars" or the countries that are likely to become major tourist destinations in the next five years, led by the United Arab Emirates, China, and Vietnam. The increasing numbers of both domestic as well as international tourists have been very encouraging for the Indian travel and hospitality sector which has nearly doubled during the last three years. The tourism and hospitality industry experienced a healthy growth trend of 24.6 per cent during 2009-2010 as compared to 2008-2009. The total number of foreign tourists in the country in 2010 was 5.58 million as compared to 5.17 million in 2009, registering a rise of 8.1 per cent, according to the Market Research Division of the Ministry of Tourism. Tourist Attractions in India India is a country known for its lavish treatment to all visitors, no matter where they come from. Its visitor-friendly
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traditions, varied life styles and cultural heritage and colourful fairs and festivals held abiding attractions for the tourists. The other attractions include beautiful beaches, forests and wild life and landscapes for eco tourism; snow, river and mountain peaks for adventure tourism; technological parks and science museums for science tourism; centers of pilgrimage for spiritual tourism; heritage, trains and hotels for heritage tourism. Yoga, ayurveda and natural health resorts and hill stations also attract tourists. The Indian handicrafts particularly, jewellery, carpets, leather goods, ivory and brass work are the main shopping items of foreign tourists. It is estimated through survey that nearly forty percent of the tourist expenditure on shopping is spent on such items. Despite the economic slowdown, medical tourism in India is the fastest growing segment of tourism industry, according to the market research report Booming Medical Tourism in India . The report adds that India offers a great potential in the medical tourism industry. Factors such as low cost, scale and range of treatments provided in the country add to its attractiveness as a medical tourism destination. Initiatives to Boost Tourism Some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government to boost tourism include grant of export house status to the tourism sector and incentives for promoting private investment in the form of Income Tax exemptions, interest subsidy and reduced import duty. The hotel and tourism-related industry has been declared a high priority industry for foreign investment which entails automatic approval of direc t investment up to 51 per cent of foreign equity and allowing 100 per cent non-resident Indian investment and simplifying rules regarding the grant of approval to travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators. The first-ever Indian Tourism Day was celebrated on January 25, 1998. The Year 1999 was celebrated as Explore India Millennium Year by presenting a spectacular tableau on the cultural heritage of India at the Republic Day Parade and organising India Tourism Expo in New Delhi and Khajuraho. Moreover, the campaign Visit India Year 2009 was launched at the International Tourism

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Exchange in Berlin , aimed to project India as an attractive destination for holidaymakers. 1. Visit India Year 2009 The initiatives taken to minimize the negative impact of the global economic slowdown included a Visit India 2009 scheme launched in collaboration with all stakeholders including airlines, hotels, tour operators, State Governments for incentivising travel to India, organizing Road Shows in important tourist generating markets overseas, arranging familiarisation tours to India for international travel trade and media representatives to keep them updated on safety / security conditions in the country and media campaigns in the print, electronic, online and outdoor media. 2. Other Promotional Activities  The Ministry of Tourism, through the India tourism office in London undertook an advertising campaign in the print and outdoor media in London to coincide with the Queens Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games 2010, which was flagged off from the Buckingham Palace on 29th October 2009

 Other promotional initiatives undertaken during the year include Incredible India Events organized in Russia in September, 2009 as part of the celebrations of the Year of India in Russia and a major India promotion event India Calling organized in association with the National Geographic Society at Hollywood Bowl and California Plaza in Los Angeles in September 2009.

 India tourism offices overseas have participated in approximately 104 Travel Fairs and Exhibitions in important tourist generating markets the world over as well as in emerging and potential markets to showcase and promote the tourism products of the country. These include the major international Travel Fairs such as the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, PATA Travel Mart in Hangzhou, China, ITB Asia in Singapore Top Resa in Paris, and World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
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3. National Tourism Policy 2002 In order to develop tourism in India in a systematic manner, position it as a major engine of economic growth and to harness its direct and multiplier effects for employment and poverty eradication in an environmentally sustainable manner, the National Tourism Policy was formulated in the year 2002. Broadly, the Policy attempts to: y y

y y

y y

Position tourism as a major engine of economic growth; Harness the direct and multiplier effects of tourism for employment generation, economic development and providing impetus to rural tourism; Focus on domestic tourism as a major driver of tourism growth. Position India as a global brand to take advantage of the burgeoning global travel trade and the vast untapped potential of India as a destination; Acknowledges the critical role of private sector with government working as a pro-active facilitator and catalyst; Create and develop integrated tourism circuits based on India s unique civilization, heritage, and culture in partnership with States, private sector and other agencies; and Ensure that the tourist to India gets physically invigorated, mentally rejuvenated, culturally enriched, spiritually elevated and feel India from within .

Growth Trends Tourism and hospitality being the largest service sector in the country, contributes around 6.23 per cent to the national GDP and 8.78 per cent of the total employment in the country. The country welcomes around 6 million international visitors every year and nearly 562 million domestic tourists. The Union Ministry of Tourism compiles a monthly estimate on the foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) and foreign exchange earnings (FEE) based on the total number of foreign visitors in the country. The important trends in the sector for June 2011 based on the report by the Ministry of Tourism are as follows:

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y

The total number of tourists visiting the country during June 2011 were 0.39 million as compared to 0.37 million during June 2010 and 0.352 million in June 2009. A growth of 7.2 per cent has been registered during June 2011 as compared to 4.9 per cent growth in June 2010. Also, the 7.2 per cent growth rate in June 2011 was higher than the observed growth rate of 7.0 per cent in May 2011. FTAs during the period January-June 2011 were 2.91 million with a growth of 10.9 per cent as compared to the FTAs of 2.63 million with a growth of 8.9 per cent during January-June 2010 over the corresponding period of 2009. FEE during the month of June 2011 were US$ 1,213 million as compared to FEE of US$ 1,020 million during the month of June 2010 and US$ 796 million in June 2009. The growth rate in FEE in June 2011 over June 2010 was 18.9 per cent as compared to the growth of 28.1 per cent in June 2010 over June 2009. FEE from tourism during January-June 2011 were US$ 7,811 million with a growth of 14.2 per cent, as compared to US$ 6,842 million, with a growth of 36.6 per cent during January-June 2010, over the corresponding period of 2009.

Performance of Tourism Sector during 2010 Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports.Because of the availability of final figures from Bureau of Immigration (BOI) for 2009, the provisional figure of 5.11 million FTAs for 2009 released earlier by Ministry of Tourism, has now been revised to 5.17 million. Following are the important highlights regarding FTAs and FEE from tourism in India during the year 2010.

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Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) FTAs in India during 2010 were 5.58 million with a growth rate of 8.1% as compared to the FTAs of 5.17 million and growth rate of (-)2.2% during 2009. The 8.1% growth rate in FTAs for 2010 over 2009 for India is much better than UNWTO s projected growth rate of 5% to 6% for the world during the same period.

Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from Tourism in Indian Rupee terms and US $ terms y FEE from tourism in Rupee terms during 2010 were Rs.64889 crore as compared to Rs. 54960 crore during 2009 and Rs. 50730 crore during 2008. y The growth rate in FEE in Rupees terms during 2010 was 18.1% as compared to the growth rate of 8.3% in 2009 over 2008.Therefore, the growth rate observed in 2010 over 2009 was substantially high. y FEE from tourism during 2010 were US $ 14193 million as compared to US$ 11394 million during 2009 and US $ 11747 million during 2008. y The growth rate in FEE in US$ terms during 2010 was 24.6% as compared to a decline of 3% in 2009 over 2008. Therefore, in US$ terms, also growth rate observed in 2010 was positive and substantially high. Government Initiatives The Government has allowed 100 per cent foreign investment under the automatic route in the hotel and tourism related industry, according to the Consolidated FDI Policy, released by DIPP, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. The terms hotel includes restaurants, beach resorts and other tourism complexes providing accommodation and /or catering and food facilities to tourists. The term tourism related industry includes:
y

Travel agencies, tour operating agencies and tourist transport operating agencies

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y

Units providing facilities for cultural, adventure and wildlife experience to tourists Surface, air and water transport facilities for tourists Convention/seminar units and organisations

y y

The Government of India has announced a scheme of granting Tourist Visa on Arrival (T-VoA) for the citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore. The scheme is valid for citizens of the above mentioned countries planning to visit India on single entry strictly for the purpose of tourism and for a short period of upto a maximum of 30 days. The government has taken up a number of initiatives to enhance the tourism and hospitality sector performance and profits. Identification and development of 37 destinations within the last two years, and execution of 600 projects for 300 tourist spots across the country with an investment of over US$24 million are some project s taken by the Government to boost the travel industry and create awareness for the sector. These efforts have been coupled with monetary assistance from the Central government to the tune of US$ 5 million and US$ 10 million, as per the Tourism report by the Gujarat Government. The Ministry of Tourism under the Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme has also set up committees to assist and motivate travel tour operators and help them to familiarise with international standards of hospitality. Also, the Government provides financial assistance to travel agents to participate in travel marts and annual conventions for travel and tourism, as per the Annual report by the Ministry of Tourism. The Uttarakhand State Government has launched 100 per cent tax exemption program to exempt multiplex projects, amusement parks, and other tourist facilities for a period of five years under the Vision 2020 document. On the same lines, Rajasthan has reduced the luxury tax level to 8 per cent from the existing 10 per cent levels. Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Gujarat have entered into Private Public Partnerships (PPP) to promote travel and tourism to attract tourists.
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According to the Eleventh Five Year Plan, a total of US$472 billion is planned to be invested in upgrading and modernising civil amenities like bridges, ropeways, roads, telecom services, ports, and other forms of transport as per a report by the Planning Commission. Market Scenario Indian travel and tourism industry bounced back from the effects of global economic slowdown last year and is optimistic of good business growth in 2011. TravelBiz Monitor looks at key developments of 2010 and major trends the industry expects to emerge this year Last year was a recovery period for the Indian travel and tourism industry. The focus clearly was to revive business hit by the economic downturn and restore trust among travellers worldwide that India is a safe destination and has come out of the shadows of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Innovation and reworking business models played key roles in revitalising business reeling under the effect of global economic slowdown. With corporate travel and inbound traffic hit badly, the huge potential of domestic tourism was explored seriously for the first time by many travel and hospitality players. Companies diversified their portfolios with niche product offerings and tested the water with new avenues of marketing like social media. Aviation Market Scenario Passengers can now cancel their non-refundable air tickets until two hours before departure and get a refund of taxes, fuel surcharge, passenger service fee and user development fee. This means a flyer stands to get back Rs 1,300 to Rs 3,800, depending on the distance and the fare. Fuel surcharge varies from Rs 1,000 for a short-haul domestic flight to Rs 3,500 for a long-haul journey. Most Low Cost Carriers charge Rs 229 as passenger service fee and Rs 103 service tax. IMPACT OF TOURISM IN INDIA Tourism industry in India has several positive and negative impacts on the economy and society. These impacts are highlighted below.
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POSITIVE IMPACTS

1. Generating Income and Employment Tourism in India has emerged as an instrument of income and employment generation, poverty alleviation and sustainable human development. It contributes 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. Almost 20 million people are now working in the India s tourism industry. 2. Source of Foreign Exchange Earnings Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange earnings in India. This has favourable impact on the balance of payment of the country. The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate. 3. Preservation of National Heritage and Environment Tourism helps preserve several places which are of historical importance by declaring them as heritage sites. For instance, the Taj Mahal, the Qutab Minar, Ajanta and Ellora temples, etc, would have been decayed and destroyed had it not been for the efforts taken by Tourism Department to preserve them. Likewise, tourism also helps in conserving the natural habitats of many endangered species. 4. Developing Infrastructure Tourism tends to encourage the development of multiple-use infrastructure that benefits the host community, including various means of transports, health care facilities, and sports centers, in addition to the hotels and high-end restaurants that cater to foreign visitors. The development of infrastructure has in turn induced the development of other directly productive activities.

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5. Promoting Peace and Stability Honey and Gilpin (2009) suggests that the tourism industry can also help promote peace and stability in developing country like India by providing jobs, generating income, diversifying the economy, protecting the environment, and promoting crosscultural awareness. However, key challenges like adoption of regulatory frameworks, mechanisms to reduce crime and corruption, etc, must be addressed if peace -enhancing benefits from this industry are to be realized. NEGATIVE IMPACTS

1. Undesirable Social and Cultural Change Tourism sometimes led to the destruction of the social fabric of a community. The more tourists coming into a place, the more the perceived risk of that place losing its identity. A good example is Goa. From the late 60's to the early 80's when the Hippy culture was at its height, Goa was a haven for such hippies. Here they came in thousands and changed the whole culture of the state leading to a rise in the use of drugs, prostitution and human trafficking. This had a ripple effect on the country. 2. Increase Tension and Hostility Tourism can increase tension, hostility, and suspicion between the tourists and the local communities when there is no respect and understanding for each other s culture and way of life. This may further lead to violence and other crimes committed against the tourists. The recent crime committed against Russian tourist in Goa is a case in point. 3. Creating a Sense of Antipathy Tourism brought little benefit to the local community. In most all-inclusive package tours more than 80% of travelers fees go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, not to local businessmen and workers. Moreover, large hotel chain restaurants often import food to satisfy foreign visitors and rarely employ local staff for senior management positions, preventing local farmers and
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workers from reaping the benefit of their presence. This has often created a sense of antipathy towards the tourists and the government. 4. Adverse Effects on Environment and Ecology One of the most important adverse effects of tourism on the environment is increased pressure on the carrying capacity of the ecosystem in each tourist locality. Increased transport and construction activities led to large scale deforestation a destabilisation of natural landforms, while increased tourist flow led to increase in solid waste dumping as well as depletion of water and fuel resources. Flow of tourists to ecologically sensitive areas resulted in destruction of rare and endangered species due to trampling, killing, disturbance of breeding habitats. Noise pollution from vehicles and public address systems, water pollution, vehicular emissions, untreated sewage, etc. also have direct effects on biodiversity, ambient environment and general profile of tourist spots. A CASE STUDY ON GOA TOURISM Goa, also known as the Rome of the East , is famous for tourism world-wide. Tourism is the mainstay of the Goan economy and is the main contributor to the exchequer. The Government of Goa has already declared tourism as an industry with effect from 01-04-2000. The master plan for the tourism development has already been prepared by the state and the Tourism Policy of the state has already been framed, but all this has to be implemented properly if we want tourism to be a success story for the state. Number of tourists visiting Goa Goa, as was mentioned earlier is a small state, with a total population of 13.48 lakhs as per the 2001 census. Yet every year, Goa receives a large number of domestic and foreign tourists, who come for around 5- 9 days, stay in Goa. India received a total of 3915324 tourists in 2005, while during the same time Goa was visited by 336803 tourists (foreign) Goa receives the largest number of tourist from UK followed by Russia. Besides, tourists from Germany, Finland, France, Switzerland, USA and many other countries also visit the state. For the first time in the history of Goa tourism, the number of foreign tourists crossed 4 lakh, with as many as 4.41 lakh of foreign tourists
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visiting Goa in the year 2010 as compared to 3.76 lakh in the year 2009. The previous best figure recorded was in the year 2007 when 3.88 lakh foreign tourists came to Goa. The figures also revealed that the number of tourists (both domestic and foreign) visiting the state rose every month of the year 2010 as compared to 2009. While the highest percentage o f 7.2 of domestic tourist arrival was recorded in May 2010, that of foreign tourists (40 per cent) was recorded in November. Goa received 3.98 lakh domestic tourists in the month of December 2010 as compared to 3.85 lakh in December, in the previous year. The foreign tourist arrival in the same month during the year 2010 also showed a sharp increase as over 1.01 lakh tourists arrived in Goa as compared to a little over 78,500 during the same month the previous year, thereby registering around 29 per cent growth. Even during the lean months of June, July, August and September, the state recorded growth in arrival of tourists which varied from 1 per cent to 6.8 per cent in the case of domestic tourists and between 5 per cent to 21 per cent in the case of foreign tourists, thereby indicating that Goa was well on the course of becoming an all season tourist destination. According to the director of Tourism, Mr Swapnil Naik, after the drop recorded in the year 2008 (when the state received 23.7 lakh tourists) due to 26/11 attack and the effect of economic slow down, the arrival of tourists in the state has been picking up to a large extent. Mr Naik also stated that Goa could also receive a record number of charter flights with over 510 flights already landing in the state as on February 4, bringing in over 1.20 lakh charter tourists. He also said that of late there has been a spurt in the arrival of charter tourists from Russia and the trend is likely to continue for some more time. The largest number of charter tourists that Goa had received was in the year 2007-08 wherein nearly 1.86 lakh tourists came to Goa in 758 charter flights that were operated during that season. The state had received over 1.37 lakh tourists in the year 2009-10, the least during the last five seasons. He also said that free itinerary travellers accounted for almost half of foreign tourists arriving in Goa. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TOURISM IN INDIA POSITIVE IMPACTS 1. Direct Financial Contributions Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitat. Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas. Special fees for
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park operations or conservation activities can be collected from tourists or tour operators. 2. Contributions to Government Revenues The Indian government through the tourism department also collects money in more far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas. User fees, income taxes, taxes on sales or rental of recreation equipment, and license fees for activities such as rafting and fishing can provide governments with the funds needed to manage natural resources. Such funds can be used for overall conservation programs and activities, such as park ranger salaries and park maintenance. 3. Improved Environmental Management and Planning Sound environmental management of tourism facilities and especially hotels can increase the benefits to natural environment. By planning early for tourism development, damaging and expensive mistakes can be prevented, avoiding the gradual deterioration of environmental assets significant to tourism. The development of tourism has moved the Indian government towards this direction leading to improved environmental management. 4. Raising Environmental Awareness Tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness of environmental problems when it brings people into closer contact with nature and the environment. This confrontation heightens awareness of the value of nature among the community and lead to environmentally conscious behavior and activities to preserve the environment. 5. Protection and Preservation of Environment Tourism can significantly contribute to environmental protection, conservation and restoration of biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources. Because of their attractiveness, pristine sites and natural areas are identified as valuable and the need to keep the attraction alive can lead to creation of national parks and wildlife parks. In India, new laws and
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regulations have been enacted to preserve the forest and to protect native species. The coral reefs around the coastal areas and the marine life that depend on them for survival are also protected. NEGATIVE IMPACTS 1. Depletion of Natural Resources Tourism development can put pressure on natural resources when it increases consumption in areas where resources are already scarce. i. Water resources : Water, especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of waste water. ii. Local resources: Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Greater extraction and transport of these resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with their exploitation. Because of the seasonal character of the industry, many destinations have ten times more inhabitants in the high season as in the low season. A high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.). iii. Land degradation: Important land resources include minerals, fossil fuels, fertile soil, forests, wetland an wildlife. Increased construction of tourism and recreational facilities has increased the pressure on these resources and on scenic landscapes. Direct impact on natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, in the provision of tourist facilities is caused by the use of land for accommodation and other infrastructure provision, and the use of building materials.

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2. Pollution Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution i. Air and Noise Pollution: Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the rising number of tourist activities in India. Transport emissions and emission from energy production and use are linked to acid rain, global warming and photochemical pollution. Air pollution from tourist transportation has impacts on the global level, especially from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to transportation energy use. And it can contribute to severe local air pollution. For example, tour buses often leave their motors running for hours while the tourists go out for an excursion because they want to return to a comfortably airconditioned bus. Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as recreational vehicles is an ever-growing problem of modern life. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for humans, it causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas ii. Solid waste and littering: In areas with high concentrations of tourist activities and appealing natural attractions, waste disposal is a serious problem and improper disposal can be a major despoiler of the natural environment - rivers, scenic areas, and roadsides. In mountain areas of the Himalayas and Darjeeling, trekking tourists generate a great deal of waste. Tourists on expedition leave behind their garbage, oxygen cylinders and even camping equipment. Such practices degrade the environment particularly in remote areas because they have few garbage collection or disposal facilities. iii. Sewage: Construction of hotels, recreation and other facilities often leads to increased sewage pollution. Wastewater has polluted seas and lakes surrounding tourist attractions, damaging the flora and fauna. Sewage runoff causes serious damage to coral reefs because it stimulates the growth of algae, which cover the filter feeding corals, hindering their ability to survive. Changes
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in salinity and siltation can have wide-ranging impacts on coastal environments. And sewage pollution can threaten the health of humans and animals. Examples of such pollution can be seen in the coastal states of Goa, Kerela, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, etc. 3. Destruction and Alteration of Ecosystem An ecosystem is a geographic area including all the living organisms (people, plants, animals, and micro-organisms), their physical surroundings (such as soil, water, and air), and the natural cycles that sustain them. Attractive landscape sites, such as sandy beaches in Goa, Maharashtra , Kerela, Tamil Nadu; lakes, riversides, and mountain tops and slopes, are often transitional zones, characterized by species-rich ecosystems. The threats to and pressures on these ecosystems are often severe because such places are very attractive to both tourists and developers. Examples may be cited from Krushedei Island near Rameswaram. What was once called paradise for marine biologists has been abandoned due to massive destruction of coral and other marine life. Another area of concern which emerged at Jaisalmer is regarding the deterioration of the desert ecology due to increased tourist activities in the desert. Moreover, habitat can be degraded by tourism leisure activities. For example, wildlife viewing can bring about stress for the animals and alter their natural behavior when tourists come too close. Safaris and wildlife watching activities have a degrading effect on habitat as they often are accompanied by the noise and commotion creat ed by tourists. Suggestions Some of the suggestions that we would like to give to improve the tourism industry and make it more sustainable include: 1. Diversifying the areas of tourism: The tourism industry in Goa has mainly concentrated on beach tourism and neglected other forms of tourism to a large extent. My suggestion is that Goa should diversify into other areas , like farm and yoga tourism which have the potential for future growth and development 2. Training the guides and the local people : The local people should be trained in hospitality services and the guides should be
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trained to provide the necessary and the correct information to the tourist Maintain the control on the prices of goods and the quality of services: The prices of the goods and services in Goa are very high, and hence many tourists are discouraged from shopping and buying local items. The local people too, find the cost of living very high and very often the local people cannot afford to purchase their daily requirements. The government should keep control on the prices of the products so that the local people and the tourist do not suffer Improving the infrastructure especially the transport: for tourism, transport is very important and in Goa we have variety of transport facilities .Motorcycle pilots are a unique feature of Goa where a person can travel any distance on a hired bike. Besides we also have many tourist taxis and other buses, but the rates charged for a small distance are exorbitant. Most of the rickshaws and taxies do not charge by meter. The public transport facility should be strengthened so that the tourists can visit the place of their choice at a very cheap rate. Improving the safety especially of women: Today many tourist women are facing many problems from the local people, especially as they do not maintain the hours and come back to the hotel or guest houses late at night. Many of the foreign women have faced molestation and other problems in Goa Maintaining a control on the beaches: The beaches in Goa are very dangerous for swimming due to the changes in tides. Even after the posting of lifeguards and many warning signs, foreign and other tourists go swimming, especially when they are drunk and the number of the dead by drowning has increased tremendously. The government and the local people should undertake steps to educate the tourists about the dangers of swimming in the seas. Trained lifeguards should be placed at all the major beaches, with life boats and life belts.

3.

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Conclusion of Case Study: We would like to put forth the submission that tourism has an important place in the economy of Goa, but this has to be carried out in a
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Development of Tourism Industry in India

very systematic manner. Only when the Government and the local people come together, implement the policy, which has been framed, it in a vigorous manner, tourism will be a boon else it will be a burden to the tiny beautiful state of Goa. FUTURE PROSPECTS According to the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) research, released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and its strategic partner Oxford Economics in March 2009: y The demand for travel and tourism in India is expected to grow by 8.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019 and will place India at the third position in the world. y India's travel and tourism sector is expected to be the second largest employer in the world, employing 40,037,000 by 2019. y Capital investment in India's travel and tourism sector is expected to grow at 8.8 per cent between 2010 and 2019. y The report forecasts India to get capital investment worth US$ 94.5 billion in the travel and tourism sector in 2019. y India is projected to become the fifth fastest growing business travel destination from2010-2019 with an estimated real growth rate of 7.6 per cent. CONCLUSION Tourism industry in India is growing and it has vast potential for generating employment and earning large amount of foreign exchange besides giving a fillip to the country s overall economic and social development. But much more remains to be done. Eco-tourism needs to be promoted so that tourism in India helps in preserving and sustaining the diversity of the India's natural and cultural environments. Tourism in India should be developed in such a way that it accommodates and entertains visitors in a way that is minimally intrusive or destructive to the environment and sustains & supports the native cultures in the locations it is operating in. Moreover, since tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a service industry, it would be necessary that all wings of the Central and State governments, private sector and voluntary organizations become active partners in the endeavor to attain sustainable growth in tourism if India is to become a world player in the tourism industry.

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