Tourism Sector on Track to Inject $200 Billion into Economy
June 23. The article highlights the positive outlook for India's travel and tourism sector in 2023, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The sector is expected to contribute $200 billion to the country's economy, just 3.5 percent below 2019 levels, and create over 1.6 million additional jobs, nearly restoring employment levels lost during the pandemic.
The domestic spending by visitors in India grew by 86 percent last year, reaching over $150 billion, which is just 1 percent behind pre-pandemic levels. The sector's gross domestic product (GDP) contribution increased by nearly 90 percent, surpassing $190 billion, accounting for almost 6 percent of the economy.
India's travel and tourism sector has shown resilience, growing at a faster rate than the country's GDP and other G20 nations. The biggest source markets for inbound tourism in India last year were Bangladesh, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and France. The most popular Indian destinations for international arrivals were Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad.
WTTC's research suggests that this growth offers significant career opportunities, particularly for young people, with around one in 13 workers in India being employed in the travel and tourism sector. The forecast predicts that international visitor spend in India will surpass $24 billion, while domestic visitor spend is projected to exceed $150 billion by the end of this year.
Looking ahead, WTTC predicts that by 2033, the travel and tourism sector will contribute approximately 7 percent of India's economy, reaching $450 billion, employing over 58 million individuals, which would equate to one in 10 jobs in the country.
The article also mentions the challenge of visa backlogs in India and the importance of investing in digital visas and biometrics to streamline travel processes. Thales Group, in collaboration with Indian airport operators, is working on biometric solutions at Indian airports to reduce check-in times. The DigiYatra app, which enables biometric boarding using facial recognition technology, has crossed one million users and is available at several Indian airports.
Furthermore, the article highlights collaborations and developments in the Indian aviation industry, such as IndiGo partnering with Sula Vineyards and Fratelli Vineyards to offer curated holiday experiences, flybig adding Canadian aircraft to its fleet to improve regional air routes, and the financial challenges faced by Go First airline as it seeks additional funds to resume operations.
Overall, the article provides insights into the growth and developments in India's travel and tourism sector, emphasizing its resilience and potential for future expansion.
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