Dharamshala Declaration 2022

Dharamshala Declaration 2022 & Tourism In India

A recent three-day national tourist conference saw the introduction of the "Dharamshala Declaration 2022."

Details about the news

• In the National Conference, the Center announced a comprehensive plan for the tourism industry.
• By 2024, tourism will have returned to its pre-pandemic level.
• $250 billion in GDP contribution by 2030, and
• By 2047, India will be the tourism powerhouse of the world.
• As per the Declaration of Dharamshala, by 2047, when the nation reaches 100, a long-term revenue target of $1 trillion is included.

Travel Clubs:

• State governments were urged by the Union Minister of Tourism and Culture to begin on "a war footing" by forming tourism clubs,.
• At the district and mandal levels, Yuva Tourism groups will be created, according to the idea.
• In addition to using the PM Gati Shakti initiative, private actors may also be involved in unique circumstances.

Restoration to pre-pandemic levels:

• By the middle of 2024, tourism in the majority of the states will return to its pre-pandemic levels, especially as foreign visitors begin to arrive; J&K, Uttarakhand, and Goa have already seen an increase in visitors.

• Foreign visitors: The biggest source markets for foreign visitors continue to be the Gulf nations, the UK, the US, and Germany. Even if the numbers have decreased, the trend has not changed.

The Indian tourism industry

Role & Importance:

• The tourism industry plays a crucial role in both the Indian and global economies.
• A key tenet of the Make in India initiative is tourism.
• One of the greatest employers in India is the travel and tourism industry, which employed roughly 12.75% of all employment in 2018–19 (direct and indirect employment combined).
• The creation of infrastructure with multiple uses is frequently encouraged by tourism.
• Think of the infrastructure for transportation (aircraft, highways, shipping, and railroads), hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as healthcare services.

Opportunities:

• India boasts 668 protected areas, over 200 beaches, and 38 UNESCO World Heritage sites that can draw a lot of tourists.
• The Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TTCI) for 2021 places India at number 54.
• TTCI is a World Economic Forum publication (WEF).
• As visitor exports, tourism and hospitality are expected to generate $50.9 billion by 2028, up from $28.9 billion in 2018.
• Compared to the 43 million jobs directly associated with travel and tourism in 2018, there will be over 53 million jobs in this sector by 2029 (8.1% of all employment).
• India is anticipated to rank among the top 5 markets for business travel by 2030.
• Additionally, specialty industries including religious tourism, medical tourism, eco-tourism, and the gem and jewelry business may experience growth.
• The accessibility of top-notch medical facilities with elite physicians, individualized nursing care, and giving specialist treatments for a cost of one-fourth that of wealthy nations.

Landscape:

• Whether a traveller is looking for adventure, wellness, culture and heritage, or cuisines, the national landscape possesses a gracious natural beauty and can accommodate practically every sort of traveller.
• Due to the service-based nature of the tourism business, the availability of a sizable labour force, both skilled and unskilled, can function as a catalyst.

Government initiatives to boost tourism sector in India:

Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

• Launched by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
• Central Sector Scheme
• Aim: Integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country in 2014-15.

National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme:

• Launched in 2015
• Focus on identifying and developing pilgrim sites across the country to promote religious tourism.

‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’:

• Announced in 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
• Aim: To enhance the bonding between the states and strengthen the unity and integrity of India.
• It showcases the rich heritage, culture, customs and traditions of the paired states.
• Through student exchange programs, it enables people to have a better understanding and appreciate the diversity of the nation.

Dekho Apna Desh initiative:

• Organises webinars, quiz, pledge, discussions to keep people connected with the stakeholders and to encourage citizens to travel within the country.

Adopt Heritage Project:

• Launched in 2017 as a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), State/UTs Governments.
• It envisages the development and maintenance of tourist amenities at heritage sites and making them tourist-friendly.

Destination North East-2020

• It is an annual event of the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.
• The event highlights various potentials like eco-tourism, culture, heritage and business of the North East Region.

Gati Shakti Master Plan

• It is a project for developing ‘holistic infrastructure’.
• It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc.
• Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity & make Indian businesses more competitive.