India’s nascent tourism industry has its work cut out to double annual tourist numbers

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It’s tough to compare the U.S. and UK where millions are funded into tourism infrastructure to India where worries about hygiene and harassment still deter some western tourists, but building a brand and board to track it are the definitive first steps.

Tourism minister Subodh Kant Sahai wants Incredible India to double the annual number of foreign tourist arrivals, but the country has to do a lot of catching up with other countries. India does not figure in the top 20 destinations and its foreign tourist arrivals are just one-tenth of its neighbour China.

More than three million tourists visit the Taj Mahal a year. Photo by Ramesh NG.

A study...commissioned by the ministry of tourism has revealed that lack of hygiene, poor infrastructure and high population density are the major concerns of tourists. The tourists even listed corruption and harassment by touts as other major concerns.

These factors have pushed India to the lowest rank among other countries to which it was compared.

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India’s nascent tourism industry has its work cut out to double annual tourist numbers

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First read is on us.
Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.

First read is on us.

India’s nascent tourism industry has its work cut out to double annual tourist numbers

Skift Take

Up Next

How Data Quality Issues Impact Global Hospitality Operations

Religious Tourism: The Indian Travel Industry’s Next Big Bet

6 Travel Startups Raise $168 Million Over 2 Weeks: Funding Roundup

Vrbo Needles Airbnb in New Campaign: We're 'Hotter' and 'Cooler'

U.S. National Parks Had a Record Year. But There’s ‘No Public Announcement’ and Staffing Shortages

First read is on us.Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.

First read is on us.
Subscribe to read more essential travel industry news.