GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
Tourism and Inclusive Growth
Context: The Statue of Unity and the cluster of projects around it are directly benefiting local communities in a 100 square-kilometre radius, and are providing inclusive sustainable growth in the region.
Potential for Tourism
India has 41 UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions, many iconic destinations, 10 eco-friendly blue flag beaches, immense natural beauty, many wildlife sanctuaries, and intangible cultural heritage through festivals and performing arts.
There is an opportunity to build tourism clusters around these so that local communities can benefit from them.
Some of these areas are inhabited by marginalised communities such as tribals and forest-dwellers. Tourism is a tool to deliver prosperity to these people as that it brings jobs and development opportunities.
In the wake of Covid-19, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated this year’s World Tourism Day on September 27 to focus on inclusive growth.
The reason for the tourism sector’s ability to create inclusive growth is also because of the relatively low investment that is required to create sustainable jobs and generate employment
Way Ahead
Government has to empower local communities by skilling them and integrating them into the tourism supply-chain so that they can run their own homestays, operate logistics, act as guides and tour operators.
While international tourism could take longer to open up, as international air travel is still constrained, government has a tremendous opportunity to promote domestic tourism as a large percentage of the population will be fully vaccinated by year end.
