Indian Tourism Industry Overview of Indian Tourism

The tourism potential of India is vast and it attracts a large number of international tourists. Tourism is the world’s largest and fastest growing industry. It is an invisible export, which earns valuable foreign exchange without any significant or tangible loss of internal resources. It is a source of revenue and employment. There are countries in the world whose main source of revenue is tourism. India is a country with a great potential for tourism. In addition to her places of ancient historical and archaeological interests, her varied wild life sanctuaries, beach resorts and winter sports attract tourists from all over the world. Indian Tourism Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking, whose main task is development of a sound foundation of tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1966, the Corporation has made phenomenal progress during the last 12 years. It provides a unique range of tourist services. There was a marked improvement in the development of tourist facilities also. The number of hotel rooms in approved hotels increased by about 100 to make a total of 15,300 rooms. In order to provide accommodation for young tourists, 14 youth hostels were opened during the year. Seven new tourist bungalows were also commissioned to provide inexpensive accommodation to middleincome tourists. The World Tourism Organisation declared 1975 the South Asia Tourism Year. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Department of Tourism intensified its efforts overseas to promote South Asia as a destination. Now one can easily guess why Max Mueller has said these lines about India- "If we were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow in some parts a very paradise on earth I should point to India."